> Strange Discovery
>  by epreeses1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A bad day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rain. Normally rain is considered the ultimate sign of a day that has been ruined. We’ve all seen it in the movies; that moment where that main character gets his girlfriend stolen and says:“Whelp, it can’t get worse,” when rain just pours down on him. Well, I like to think differently. 

I see rain as the life giving force it is, bringing relief to a company of firefighters fighting a rapidly spreading wildfire or dehydrated wild life in a desert. I see the cup half full of rain, but, right now I don’t feel that way.

My name is Eric Winters and right now I am stuck in traffic because of a mud slide blocking the middle of the road due to, you guessed it, rain.

I had had a tough day at the Maine Wildlife Park, I’m just a “Desk Jockey” as Bridget Nightingale says. Everything was going fine, I was ahead of schedule on my paperwork and thought I could get home before the rain started, but I thought too soon. Bridget came in right as I finished my last paper, told me that her boss had over worked her and that she needed my help; why me I’ll never know. It was just like her to take advantage of my inability to say no to any other women other than my mother. 

She wanted me to feed the mountain lions and that sounded like a piece of cake, just throw the meat into the habitat and get on with your life, but like before, I thought too soon. Bridget told me that I first had to find the mountain lions, that they were hiding for some reason or another. I called her out of this, but she pulled rank so I couldn’t do a thing, that and she passed the high level zoology courses I couldn’t.

So I scouted the habitat pushing a cart filled red meat, about twenty pounds of the stuff, but I couldn’t find them. I wasted twenty minutes looking for the damn cats while Bridget worked on her other tasks before I got fed up and threw the meat off of the side and headed to clock out.

When I got into my 2002 ford focus I heard the first plinks of rain drops hitting my windshield, but when I left the zoo’s parking lot, the rain was pouring so hard that I had to turn my wipers up to full just to see where I was going. Two minutes later I was on the road going about twenty miles an hour in a forty zone, but there were two lanes so no one complained. 

A large embankment of dirt encroached on my left narrowing the road to one lane. I had a feeling of trepidation, like something bad was going to happen. I thought too soon.

There was no warning other than a low rumble on my left, and the tail lights of the car in front of me disappeared so fast I thought the red dots blinked.  Even at the slow speed I was going my brain didn’t have enough time to connect the dots and before the tail lights had time to open their eyes again, I rear ended him. I stared at the red lights, four thumps, each softer than the last, coming from behind me as more cars collided with one another.

My first reaction wasn’t anger, I was better than that and didn’t go through two years of anger management for nothing, no, it was confusion. Where did the car go? Why am I face down against the steering wheel? 

I don’t know how long I sat there before someone was on the other side of the window.

“Tap tap”

I flinched, like I was waking up from a dreamless sleep. Looking up I rolled down my window, feeling the rain crash against my cheek, a young white man wearing a rain soaked white button down shirt was looking at me.

“Are you alright?”

I shook myself, feeling lightheadedness flee my mind in a puff of smoke. “What happened?” I said, my voice sounding dry and cracked. 

“It was a landslide,” his voice sounded eerily familiar and I found myself looking him up and down.”It was small though and with some help we could push my car out before a bigger one happens.”

“I told the city council to build a retaining wall on that hill or at least plant some oaks or something, but no, they spend the money on refining the fire department.” I said, shaking off the last of the fog from the crash. “I mean, I respect firefighters and all, and that they saved two families from burning buildings this week, but—”

“Man, I’d love to hear about how much you hate the city council, but there might be another landslide soon. So can you help?”

“Sure, I’ll help you.” I moved to get out quick to help push his car, but was stopped.

“I’m not saying physically help.” he said motioning to his trapped Ford Pilot. “I want your car to push it out of the way.” 

I saw through the pounding rain that my focus was lined up just right. “But what about damages?”

“Don’t worry about that, just give me your phone number and we’ll have our lawyers talk it out. That’s what they’re there for, right?” there was a stupid grin on his face. “I just want to get home before my mother worries about me.”

“Sure, but you should really have more respect for your lawyers, ah”

“Drake, Drake Manwell”

“Drake, right, listen if I do any damage to your car it’s not my  fault.” I took pen and paper from my glove compartment, having to sift through my registration to find the ball point pen. “Okay… here you go, now why don’t you be a good man and tell the other drivers what happened while I focus on getting us home.” 

“Okay!” he said before adding in a solemn tone I attributed to the dreary conditions. “Mom would be so proud.” he moved off to the next car and once I heard him tapping on the window of the next car I rolled up my window. 

I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could, but when I thought through “Momma’s boy’s” plan I found that he just wanted to take credit and use it to impress his mother, but Drake  didn’t even think of trying to drive out of the fallen dirt, and to make things worse, there might be another landslide any second.

Looking out the window, I saw that the white collar was heading back to his car. “Maybe one of the other drivers told him about his stupidity?” I felt the rain pound the hood of my car, every moment spent idle was another moment under a loaded gun, and I don’t think being buried six feet under is good for my health.

I honked my horn, hearing its shrill cry pierce the dull drumming of the rain helped bring me to my senses and hopefully told Drake to hurry up.  I could see him fumble into the drivers seat, buckle his seatbelt and I felt the car move out of the couple inches of dirt, but I could hear a loud rumbling coming from the left and almost instantaneously floored my car. 

The Pilot’s rear crumpled under the attack and I could feel my adrenaline rush as I pushed his car past the incoming soil. I heard tiny pellets hit my windows and felt the guard rail scratch my paint job, but was relieved to find myself on the other side of the giant mound of dirt. I was also relieved to find that none of the other cars had followed and a smile grew on my face at the thought of them waiting a few hours before getting to their easy chairs and watching 9 news at 11.

I drove up to the “Momma’s boy” and rolled down my window.

“Why the hell did you do that!”

“Call me tomorrow, name’s Eric, we’ll figure it out tomorrow.” I rolled the window back up and drove off before he could say anything else.

I was finally free; it took that idiot way too long to drive his car out of the dirt, but now I was free to go home and take a ten minute shower. I didn’t want to think about writing a four hundred dollar check for a fender bender repair at my local meinekes.

After dodging a deer two turns away from the home stretch, the ride home was smooth as silk and five minutes later I was driving up my driveway.

My home was a small one story cottage about three miles from the park.

As I slid my car onto the driveway, I saw that all of the lights were out, making my house look like a giant monster, ready to snatch you up. There were no streetlights out here and my closest neighbor was about a half a mile away so I was completely blind when walking up my walkway, but I didn’t care. 

I put my Focus in park, took out the keys and grabbed my umbrella from the back and opened the door to a torrent of rain. Hearing the muffled “meep meep” of the doors locking I walked up the flagstone walkway counting each stone I hit to keep track of my location. There were twelve stones and I was on stone 9, about the point where the walkway turned to the right just before heading to the door, when I tripped on something unexpected. 

“Fuck,” I said as a wave of shock gripped my body; my hands caught my fall and the stones were smooth so I didn’t have any uninvited guests making residence in my palms. The only thing that was bruised was my pride. 

I hadn’t been expecting any packages, but I retraced my online purchases, when that came up empty I became officially confused. I groped around in the dark, rain soaking my exposed arm, in hope of finding the perpetrator.

I had to whip out my cell phone to give light to my situation. “Maybe I should have gotten that porch light?” I said as I made out a handle like silhouette. 

When I bought this cottage three years ago I was given the option of adding either a security system or air conditioning. The cottage was low budget and since it was made of wood, and linkin logs and electricity can cause fire, it would be hard to install a safe air conditioning without extra funds, plus, some husky limberjacks want to “rough it” and don’t want air conditioning. I had no plans of “roughing it” so I opted for the air conditioning; this meant that I wasn’t going to get a front porch light (in hindsight I think I should have fought a little harder on that, but that’s water under the bridge) they were even offering the newest Biotite model, the one with a carbon filter that some how makes it that you can see everything in your lawn while not disturbing your neighbors, ir some sort of bull shit like that. 

I grabbed the handle and walked the last three stones. Getting to my door is one thing, unlocking it, a whole different beast. I dropped my keys twice, a nervous bolt passing through me everytime I heard the plastic key chain smack against the ground, but eventually I got the key in the lock and twisted it open.

I was greeted by man’s best friend as, Bane, my five year old black lab, hurried to meet his master, I felt a warm fire flicker in my heart and set the picnic basket down on the hardwood floor, kneeling just in time to get my face licked off.

“Good to see you too, Bane,” I said as I was assaulted by a trained dog tongue. “You ready for dinner?” That got him going. He stared at the ground and spun in a circle, using his head as a sort of pivot point. I don’t know if it’s some kind of remanence of his puppyhood, or just something that made him tick, either way it always got a laugh out of me.

I made my way to the kitchen, grabbing the bag of “Dog Chow” from the cabinet, and poured the meaty chunks into the green plastic bowl while Bane yipped and howled like a child who wants the candy bar in their father’s hands.

“Dig in!” I said, letting Bane to attack his food. 

I slowly backed away, knowing how protective Bane is of his possessions. It might be the wolf in him, or the fact that he’s a rescue, but I wasn’t about to mess with him right now.

With Bane satisfied, I walked out of the kitchen, noticing the rain pelting the window above the sink, and went to investigate the picnic basket. 

The wicker basket was unlike anything I’d seen, but then again, this is the first time I’d been given a basket like this. It was like the basket the Easter bunny holds with a long arch of twisted wicker making the handle and a half egg shaped cup holding the eggs, but instead of eggs there was a blue blanket covering the contents. On closer inspection, I saw that what I thought was a blanket wasn’t a blanket at all.

That and what was housed inside the basket was breathing! 

I panicked a little bit, unsure whether to grab some towels or take Bane and run for the hills. I decided on the towels and ran down the hallway towards the laundry room, grabbing three separate starch white towels before rushing back to the basket. 

I wrapped the critter in one of them, feeling its loose fur catch with the fibers in the towel, and headed to the living room. I put a new log in the fireplace, took some of the lint from the dryer, struck a match and felt the instant heat hit my face. Using another towel I made a mat so the soaked thing didn’t have to lie on the cold wooden floor. It was shaking violently, which meant hypothermia hadn’t taken full hold yet.  Its sporadic breathing got me nervous, but once the warmth of the fire hit it, its breathing thankfully calmed down.

When it looked to be blissfully asleep, I took another look at the basket. There was no blanket, but taped onto the wicker pole was a note that looked ready to melt. Getting a closer look I saw that the ink was only a little runny and I could still make out the words.

Please help my daughter, her name is Eclipse.
Signed, Orion

“Orion? Eclipse? is this some kind of prank?” I said. Rereading the note three times to see if something new popped up that would explain the freezing puppy that was currently sleeping the cold off by my fireplace, but there was nothing.

Looking at the blue puppy I thought about a breed of dog that had blue fur, but nothing came up. A stroke of trepidation crept up my spine as the thought of the unwelcomed guest being hostile and I found myself reaching for one of the knives from the drawer, but stopped myself. If it was hostile, Bane would take it down, he’s protective of me as well as his food. Fear ebbing away I sat down on the couch opposite the fireplace, grabbed a book and waited for “Eclipse” to wake up.











They say that listening to someone’s heartbeat helps you fall asleep. It might be the dependable soft thumping distracting your mind and allowing for your tiredness to take control or some kind of chemical that gets released, I don’t know, but what they don’t talk about is that heavy rain puts you to sleep. 

While I read I could hear the harsh pitter patter of the rain, but I ignored it and focused on my book. It was just getting to the good part when I decided to close my eyes for a moment, then ‘wham’ I was out cold. 

I woke up when Bane barked at something. Bane isn’t one to bark for no reason, I learned that in the first few months A few times I had to find him at the doggy play park he was so quiet. It was strange for him to be my alarm clock.

I rubbed my eyes to get rid of the sleep; when I opened my eyes again I saw the fire (while dimming) was still glowing, there were three lonely towels lying just in front of the fireplace and Bane was conversing with a tiny unicorn. 

“Wait, huh?” 

I shook my head like I was trying to get a crazy squirrel to let go of my brain and took a second look. It was the same blue thing I found in the basket, no bigger than a six week old puppy, it seemed to be frightened and clutched Bane’s leg for dear life. 

I got up, flinching as the book fell from my chest, hitting the floor with a loud bang; Eclipse flinched too, hugging Bane’s leg tighter, her eyes staring at me with a frightening purple hue. Those eyes darted around the room like a scared child. I was beginning to question if “Eclipse” was a dog or somekind of abomination that stole a human soul and acted like it was human. I shook my head again, it was too early to make those kinds of judgements.

Moving closer I could hear Eclipse’s frantic breathing and almost expected Bane to growl at me, but that would never happen, Bane trusts me more than anyone.  I stretched my hand out in confidence, and placed it on top of the black lab’s head. A tiny gasp escaped Eclipse’s mouth, barely audible with the overbearing sound of rain, and a moment later she bolted, running underneath the couch I slept on. Scratching behind his ear, Bane gave a confused “Arf?” and tilted his head in the direction Eclipse ran to. I sat down next to him, wrapping both arms around his waist, shaking him until he licked me to death.

I heard what sounded like muffled cries coming from under the couch and let Bane investigate. He put his sniffer to good use finding Eclipse in no time. I could see her form back itself against the wall, her cries getting louder, but surprisingly I found myself quickly getting bored or rather tired. 

I got up and headed into the kitchen, planning to make some quick dinner, maybe a sandwich or one of those Digiorno pizzas I picked up last week. I settled for the sandwich and quickly finished. 

I could see the dirt that dug its way underneath my fingernails from working all day. Putting the plate in the sink I made my way across the hallway, ignoring the black lab that was licking the forehead of a blue unicorn filly, and took a shower.
Nothing felt right as I put my last pair of pajama pants on, the rain seemed far away, yet I could hear it pounding at my windows; I felt distant from the world, like I was going through my room at warp speed, distorting my grasp on reality. By the time I got under the thick covers, the sound of rain turned into relentless crying and I was beginning to wonder if Bridget put something in the noodles I had for lunch, but before I could question anything, I was out. 

Sawing logs the moment my head hit the pillow, and while my fear abated into sweet nothings, I knew that Eclipse was a unicorn from another dimension. I knew she would ask me where her mother was tomorrow and that she would want a bowl of applejacks because they’re named after one of her mother’s friends, but I knew that I didn’t want to know these things. I didn’t want a talking unicorn living under my roof, that would be too out of the norm for a “desk jockey” like myself, maybe a gutsy girl like Bridget, but not me. The last thing I thought before my brain turned in for the day was that Bridget was going to come over tomorrow, and she would find Eclipse cowering under the couch. 
> The Past Haunts Us All
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	

Well this is a long chapter, so I put little marks where you can take a break 





Beep Beep*

I blinked as the sound of my alarm clock raced to my brain. 

What? I blinked again, the room becoming clearer. Do I have work today? No. Do I? I remembered talking to my supervisor about getting the day off, but couldn’t remember if the motion actually went through. 

The room was black except for three bright red numbers at the corner of my eye: 6:01 it proudly displayed. 

I yawned and tried to get up but as I turned my body a wave of nausea washed over me and before I realized it I had flopped back on the bed unable to move a muscle. I soon tried again and this time sitting up before the nausea hit, but I wasn’t prepared for it and ended up falling to the floor with a loud “thump” 

Pain flared in my chest and I was finally awake, but there was a beeping sound coming from above me. 

“What the hell,” I groaned. The ground felt didn’t feel like my bed, but it wasn’t uncomfortable; if it wasn’t for that damn beeping I think I could fall asleep here. 

Beep Beep* Beep Beep* 

That damn beeping.

Get up* Get up*

“Whaaat?” 

Get up* Get up*

The floor was feeling really comfortable. I snuggled against it, feeling the carpet fibers rubbing against my face.

Get up* Got work*

“Work? Work? Do I have work today?” I tried to get up, but the floor had its tendrils around me, keeping me down. 

Get work*

“I applied for that day off right?” I pushed against the floor, like someone doing a pushup, but couldn’t even get my arms straight. 

Get up* Get up*

The floor felt so comfortable, and my eyes were feeling particularly heavy at that moment. Suddenly the beeping became a heartbeat to my mind, and with its consistent and predictable beeping I found myself falling asleep like a baby in its mother’s arms. 


1


Beep Beep Beep Beep ‘Ring’ Beep Beep ‘Ring’ 

The heartbeat was having an erythema and I slowly opened my eyes only to close them again as bright sunlight washed over me. A sour lump grew in my forehead as I tried to get up and the questions from last night (or whenever I fell on the floor) came floating up. 

Beep Beep ‘Ring’

I shot up as the sound of the phone crossed my brain, but I got up too fast and grasped for one of the chairs to keep me up. 
There are no chairs in my room and I fell to the ground with another ‘thump’.

When I came to, Bane was licking my face and by the sound of his soft whimpers I knew he was worried. 

“It’s okay, I’m just a little light headed.” I felt like someone lodged a bolder in my cranium and I just wanted to go back to sleep, sometimes I feel like that would have been a better decision than the one I actually chose.

I got up, slower this time, and paced towards the kitchen with my hand covering my throbbing head, wincing at every beam of light. 

My heart seemed to freeze for a second as I passed Bane’s cage. Inside was a small blue… thing, it looked out right terrified, shrinking back into the ribbed corners of the box. It’s eyes were half the size of its head, their purple hue too rich, and the tears too real. It had a two toned blue and purple mane, making it seem like someone’s lost teenage girl had her way with it, but something I didn’t see because of the lighting, was the spiral horn that protruded from its forehead.  

I blinked again, trying to see if I was confusing it with one of Bane’s squeaky toys, but that only made my head throb more. Any hope of it being fake was crushed when Bane returned to his cage and it leapt at him, clutching his leg for dear life as he licked its forehead comfortingly. 

I stood there, watching as whatever it was calmed down. I couldn’t move and felt like someone ripped a hole in reality, but before I knew it I clamped my eyes shut, ignored the crescendo of pain, and started for the kitchen again.

Once my bare feet landed on the cool linoleum floors, I felt my nerves relax, but heat soon dominated again as the light of the midday sun blared in my eyes. I put an apple cinnamon K cup in the Kerige, Bridget bought me after she got me hooked on the stuff, and went to the medicine cabinet for some aspirin. When I glugged two of god’s pain seeking missiles, I took my cup of coffee and picked up the phone. 

“Who the hell called me?” I said. Looking at the phone I saw a number that I didn’t reconize with the timestamp at 11:58 am “That can’t be right. What time is it?” I took a sip of flavored caffeine, feeling its heat slither down my throat, as I looked at the digital clock on the stove. It read 12:02 in bright red letters. Suddenly the inside of my nose felt like it was on fire. Coffee burned through my sinuses, I gagged, feeling the hot mess dribble out my nose. 

“What the fuck!” I shouted once the coughing died. “I”m late for work!”

I sprinted, but felt my leg slip, nearly ending with my face on the floor. I recovered passing through the connecting doorway between the kitchen and living room, but once my left foot landed on the carpeted floor. I fell, hitting my head on the ground. Bane howled, rushing to my side while leaving his charge in a blubbering mess of fear and tears. I could feel his rough tongue lapping my forehead, but couldn’t see him. Everything was going blurry, the throbbing pain was overwhelming and I thought I felt myself leak from my left foot.

“I knew getting your house key would save your life.”

Huh? When did the door open? Who’s there?

I could see someone standing on the doormat, that she was wearing a pair of loose gray sweat pants with blue and black skechers, even the lime green laces, but I couldn’t tell who it was. 

What’s going on? Why is my head trying to explode on me? Why is everything getting dark?

“Relax, Eric,” a distant yet familiar voice said. “I’ll take good care of you, now go to sleep.”

“Whack” 

Everything went black.  


2

Soft. Everything felt soft, but I can’t see anything. The only thing I could see was the color black, yet, I can’t complain, the dark is so soothing, and the tender bristles so relaxing. Letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I could feel my body relax as I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. 


3


You know that feeling you get when you don’t want to get up for school? That’s what I feel like right now. 

I am in that lucid place between blissful sleep and the hauntings of wakefulness, yet no matter how hard I tried to push back down into the dream world, something tugged me back to the land of the awake. 

I groaned.

“Oh, looks like you’re finally going to join us.”

I know that voice! 

I groaned again, twitching my hand to find out where it was in space and time, and it responded immediately to my command. I then twitched my feet and felt pain in my left foot, prompting me to open my eyes and let out a surprised yelp.

“Holy crap, Eric!” Bridget said, catching me and keeping me from hitting the back of my head on the coffee table. As the world stopped spinning, I could feel her warm arms wrap around me. That warmth spread throughout my body, calming my mind and easing my pain.

Bridget Nightingale never did anything half assed, she might not always be in the right, but she gave everything her all. Sometimes this meant she said the wrong thing at the wrong time, or the right thing at the right time. This time, thankfully, it was the latter. 

“You know we got the day off right?”

What? 

I looked around the room, a sudden sense of idiocy flashing in my mind.

How could I have been so stupid? 

I punched the couch, hearing a sudden yelp near the door, and grumbled as I shook the sleep off. I looked into Bridget’s gem green eyes and took a deep breath to calm my rattled nerves. The breath was cut off as the no pain in my head marked the end of the splitting headache I had this morning. 

“What would I do without you, Brid-JET!!!” I shouted as my bandaged foot hit the floor, sending a spike of pain shooting into my brain.

“Easy, Eric, you’ll reopen the gash in your foot like that.”

It was like I placed my bare foot on a pile of burning ash. “What happened?”

“You stepped on a broken piece of your coffee cup,” she said with a smile. “There was a lot of blood, but I got you cleaned and bandaged up in ten minutes flat.” 

I looked at the bottom of my foot, trying to ignore the burning pain, and saw that it was stained red. My heart stopped, I couldn’t breath. Blood. My entire foot was engulfed in blood. I flinched, memories of screaming hospital patients flooding my mind. Deep red scars lining the pure white linen of the sterile hospital beds. Screams of agony as burn victims were wheeled into the ICU. I screamed again when I saw a red headed women with a thick white bandage covering her right eye. 

Then quiet.

The visions of Shady Grove Hospital dimmed as I was wrapped in powerful arms. 

“I’m sorry. I-I should h-have told you not to look at your foot.” Bridget said, tears flowing from her eyes. “Please forgive me.”
I couldn’t say a word, my tongue tied into too many knots to let a single syllable loose, so instead I returned her hug, pressing my face into the nape of her neck like a small child would her parents after a nightmare.

We stayed like that until I could utter two words. “It’s fine.” 

I let go and sat up, taking another deep breath before asking: “So what do you want to do?” She stared at me until her arm moved, attracting my attention; I looked down and saw a set of deep bite marks etched into her lower forearm near her hand. “Where did you get that?” 

“I got them by trying to pet a scared baby unicorn,” she said with a straight face. 

“Are you joking? There are no unicorns on earth.”

“Yeah, Bane is protecting one in his cage.” she pointed to the metal box near the door where two giant purple eyes were staring over a black mass that was my dog. There was a small ‘epp’ followed by the eyes vanishing behind the black mass. “She’s really timid and I don’t blame her for biting me. Heck, I probably would have done the same thing if I found myself in a world where giants lived.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. I tried to get up, but stopped after putting the lightest amount of pressure on my bandaged foot. So I sat there, looking at Bane, waiting for him to move and reveal this unicorn to me. Fear began to wrap its icy tendrils around my neck. 

“Close and lock the cage.” were the first words out of my mouth after a nearly ten minute gap of nothing.

“It is, I thought it might make her feel safer if there was something between her and the monsters of her new world.” Bridget got up and moved to the kitchen while I tried to get comfortable with my new injury. 

When she came back she carried the roll of thick white gauze I left in my medicine cabnet. “Give me your foot please.” she didn’t wait for me to answer and physically grabbed my foot, but didn’t yank or squeeze, gently lifting it so it could rest on my lap. “Look away so you don’t see the red stuff.” her voice was soft yet demanding. I turned my head, feeling the gauze on my foot being cut by a pair of cold scissors before hearing the new gauze being cut and applied. 

“I’ll repeat, what do you want to do?” I said once Bridget came back to the couch. 

“I don’t know, video games?”

“Sure,” I said with a shrug. I tried to get up, but was held down by Bridget’s hand.

“You sit there, I’ll get the games. What do you wanna play?” I looked to my left to see those same purple eyes hide behind my now sleeping dog. Bridget followed. “Double Dash it is then.”

Throughout our balloon battles and races, the baby unicorn showed herself more and more, maybe from the joyful “Wahoos” Mario made whenever he jumped over a rainbow ramp, or maybe she had a kind of childish curiosity about the thing that was once black giving off so many bright and wondrous colors; whatever it was I was able to see her entire blue body by the time the game switched to Mario Party 5.  

While Bridget earned the mini game star I couldn’t help but look towards the door to get a glimpse of the once thought mythical beast. Everytime I did so she’d flinch back only to be drawn forth again whenever I lost at Lake Skater or one of the other mini games. 

Slowly I became more comfortable, beginning to really get into the game because when something that isn’t normal becomes locked behind bars it doesn’t seem so scary. Part of me feels that the feeling is mutual.  

“Oh yeah, who got the dream star,” Bridget hollered as Eldstar bounced over Peach’s body. “Me that’s right.” I had come in fourth, getting thoroughly screwed by both Toad and Koopa Kid. “Looks like you’re paying for lunch, Buddy.” This came with a hearty slap on the back followed by more gloating.

“I never promised to buy you lunch!”

“No, you didn’t, but we can’t go over to my house and get food. Plus, my little cheering section has got to be hungry after that victory.”

“Cheering section? I was your opponent not your cheerleader.”

“I’m not talking about you, Dompy. I’m talking about the little unicorn.” Bridget pointed towards the blue unicorn that was silently hoof pumping thin air. “How long has she been in there? Two maybe three hours? She’s got to be hungry by now.”

“What, ohhh, you mean her,” I said slapping myself in the face. 

“Yeah, Twine Nuts, now you stay there I’ll go cook us some pancakes.” I knew there was no pancake mix, but I let her go, hoping she’d figure that out herself.

While she was gone I took a look at the unicorn. She seemed to be messing with the lock on Bane’s cage as secretly as Mario when he tries to hide his mushroom addiction. Her little hooves would catch the handle and a light would shine in her eyes, but that would just as quickly be snuffed out as the handle would drop with a small “clink”.

From the stories, Bridget told me, a lot of the children want to go inside the habitat with the wild animals. They feel comfortable enough to walk on the same ground as a man eating animal. All of these hopes were swiftly crushed, but one person managed to get inside. I closed my eyes for a brief moment as I imagined the bright and somewhat chilly day when a twelve year old named Annie Mayweather succeeded.  

Annie Mayweather and her mother Mary Mayweather were in one of Bridget’s tour groups. Annie wore a pink tee shirt with the words “Cathedral School” on top. Her and nine of her other classmates were on a fieldtrip with girls wearing a pink shirt and boys wearing blue. Along with the shirt, Annie wore a loose pair of knee high capri jeans. There was a light gust of pre winter wind and everyone else had worn their tee shirt over top of their jackets, everyone but Annie, who said she likes the cold.

Bridget lead the entire group past the mountain lion cage, wearing a thick Maine Wildlife Park hoodie over her uniform, stopping to look at the animals. All of the children had a clipboard and a single sheet of paper. A worksheet they needed to fill out and hand in to the teacher, Mrs Cromwell, before the day was over. 

Everything had been going well, the kids were enjoying themselves, Mark Whiten, an eleven year old boy, had nearly gotten himself stuck between the bars at the Canadian lynx exhibit, and the adults had a good laugh when he was finally freed. Overall it was a chill day, and everyone wanted to get the last exhibit done so they could get home before the wind picked up. 

There were four adults not including Bridget, and three were discussing either giving the children rides home or how to shut Mark up about mooning the fisher trainer, while the fourth was watching the kids, but little Annie wanted an up close view of the mountain lion, so when her mother turned away to take a puff of her cigarette she was holstered up by Mark and one of the other boys.

“Rub his butt for me, kay Annie,” Mark said in the quietest voice he could muster, which was surprisingly quiet. 

“I don’t think he’ll like that—” but before Annie could finish her sentence, Mark pushed her off of the ledge.

Bridget jumped out of her skin when she heard Annie’s scream. She had been checking her phone to see if I texted her about movie night (That night we were supposed to see the 1987 Robocop) but I hadn’t. Putting her phone away she looked at the other mothers wondering what happened, but once the loud “CRRRAAACK” came from twelve feet below, they knew. She wasted no time and bolted from the bridge, dripping her clipboard while she ran for the nearest underground entrance.

“What did you do!” one of the mother’s yelled at Mark, who is often blamed when things went wrong, but Bridget didn’t hear them, she knew what time of the year it was. 

Annie’s screams of pain could be heard through the two foot stone walls that lined the underground tunnels and only got louder the closer she got to the chain linked fence that separated the tunnel from the habitat. 

Mountain lions were highly territorial, only allowing those trusted few to come in without slitting their throats and crushing the windpipe with their massive jaws, and now that it was mating season, Annie had about a minute before she was attacked. 

“Bridget, what happened?” A coworker who happened to be testing a newly ordered tranq dart gun said. Bridget didn’t answer and grabbed him by his shirt, not even stopping to tell him what was going on, or what the scream meant. Physically dragging him, she came upon the chain link door. Quickly she put the key into the hole, feeling each locking pin clink into place. The co worker knew what was going on, that a little girl had fallen into the mountain lion pit and cocked the dart gun. It was time to put the money spent to good use. 

Hearing the screams intensify, Bridget didn’t need to look to know that Solo, the male mountain lion, had found her. The lock opened, and once the door slid outward, the smell of dirt and grass hit her at full force. Bridget hesitated for the briefest of moments, not even fast enough for her co worker to notice but it happened. Then she bolted out, hearing the screams from above as the chaperones saw the incoming threat to one of their own. 

Sweat poured down her head as adrenaline pumped through her system, fueling her courage while her brain shut off and she ran solely on emotions. A loud roar from the king of this jungle gave the helpless child her one and only chance to get out of his territory before he ate her for lunch. Bridget, trusting her co worker with her life, moved between Annie and the monster arms spread wide. Now she was staring into Solo’s deep black eyes, hoping that he would be confused for a long enough time to let her coworker fire the dart. It worked and seconds later, Solo fell to the ground as the new tranq formula began its trek through his body, knocking him out in mere seconds. Her adrenaline still pumping, Bridget grabbed Annie, the sound of a mother’s sigh clearly heard from over fifteen feet away, and running out of the cage before Nala, the female Solo was courting, came to find them. 

The sight of the red stained capri legging was something Bridget could still see whenever she passed the mountain lion exhibit. 
In the end Bridget got a medal for her mindless courage and a hearty slap on the back from her boss, but she is still taunted by the memory of almost losing someone under her care. Even today, a full year after the incident, she is haunted by the ‘what ifs’ what if she tripped? What if the new dart gun didn’t work? All attacking her psyche  

merely a month after saving little Annie’s life, she resigned from the tour job in favor of the lesser paying job of a trainer, refusing to even look at the mountain lion habitat.

Since then she pinned feeding the mountain lions on me as I was one of two people she really trusted, and I couldn’t bring myself to say no. I got a seventy five sent raise from my boss for picking up Bridget's slack so there was no way out of it.

Now, back at the house, I stare into those giant purple eyes, feeling like Annie did, board and wishing for something more. I trusted the unicorn when she was behind those bars, but I could be pushed into the lion’s den if I opened that cage. 

Kneeling down onto all fours I mustered my gentlest voice: “D-do you want me to h-help you?” 

She looked at me, her eyes shimmering in the afternoon light. I was expecting her to either nod or continue working. I never would have guessed what she did next.

After a bit of internal debate she said: “Y-yes please.”

She… talks I thought as a tiny wedge formed between the lobes of my brain. She talks. 

Even Bane seemed surprised at this as he licked her frantically, but no matter the distraction she wouldn’t break eye contact with me. She wrapped a hoof around Bane’s neck, still looking at me. 

As I approached I thought she would lose what little confidence she had and hide behind Bane, but she stayed firm. Once I was close though, she said: “D-Don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t,” I found myself saying, still baffled that I was talking to a baby unicorn, and that the baby unicorn could talk back.

“Oh, before I forget,” Bridget said poking her head between the connecting door. “You...Ahh, what are you doing?”

“I ahhh was just about to let your cheerleading squad out for lunch,” I said, an unexplained blush tinting my cheeks. 

Bridget wore the apron I kept in the cupboard for whenever she wanted to cook, a simple purple one with two stripes going down the left side, one blue and the other pink. It had been a birthday present, and it took me weeks before I breathe properly again after the hug she gave. 

“Oh,” she crouched down to be at eye level with the unicorn. “Well don’t let me stop you.”

I nodded, knowing this was a test, and slowly grabbed the handle. 

As Bridget watched the unicorn for her reactions, I focused on doing this right to prove to her that I could take care of baby animals, as a job in the parks nursery department had just opened up. I already applied, looking forward to the raise, but I would never get in without a recommendation from Bridget. I looked at her stoic face, no emotion giving away her feelings towards my actions, and imagined the cute baby animals I’d work with.

The lock opened with an audible click, and the unicorn, being stared down by two unknown creatures twice her size, cowered behind Bane’s egear body. I saw a flash of something in Bridget’s face, anger? Fear? I don’t know, but it didn’t stop me as the door opened with a squeak. 

I moved my hand slowly inside the cage, Bane wagged his tail thumping it against the old doggy bed, and I could see a single streak of sunlight on her shaking blue fur. Moving ever so slowly,  I shrunk myself down so I wouldn’t seem so big and scary, but even with these preparations, the second my finger made contact, she screamed, rushing to the back of the iron barred cage and hitting her head against the bars. 

I flinched, seeing Bridget’s face drop with disappointment, but whether it was directed at me or the unicorn was unknown. The blue unicorn was hyperventilating, pressing her back against the wall as her violet eyes radiated pent up fear. Her two toned mane became tangled up in the bars, with the blue separating from the purple, giving her a truly disheveled look. 

Her fear was palpable and I felt horrible intruding on such an innocent creature, scaring her out of her mind as thoughts of what I’d do to her if my hand made contact again. I was about to retract my hand and back away before Bridget pushed me. Thankfully I had good reflexes and was able to retrieve my arm before taking a tumble. 

“You scared her!” Bridget howled. “Bane come on out, we need to give her some space.”

Bane came out, but not because he wanted to give the unicorn some space, but because he wanted to lick my forehead.

“I saw how scared she got, Bridget!” I shouted, anger rushing along side the pain. “And I was about to remove my arm, but you pushed me scaring her more.”

“Oh you’re blaming me for what you did?”

“Yes, I read the signs and was about to act accordingly, but you didn’t let me.” I got up, ignoring the pain in my foot and stared straight into Bridget’s pale green eyes. “I didn’t scare her, you did!”

Bridget pushed me again, but I kept on my feet. “You’re the one who didn’t talk to her. It’s your fault she’s scared!” 

“No, you pushed me right as I was LEAVING!”

“hic”

Bridget and I were tangled in each other’s arms, electricity shooting from our eyes as we focused on proving the other wrong, but something as simple as a hiccup from the cage was enough to break us out of the fighting spirit. 

Turning I saw that the unicorn was huddled in a tight ball, audible cries ringing like bells in my ears. I could see the glint of her tears reflecting in the afternoon sunlight and felt my heart lurch forward. 

Do I… care about this thing? I thought, wondering about the strong feelings that coursed through my veins at the moment, but that quickly changed as Bridget grabbed me by the shoulders, pushing me towards the kitchen as she said: “We’ve done enough damage, Eric, let’s go have lunch.” Her voice was rigid as tears streamed down her eyes. “I know you know the best thing we can do for her is to leave her alone, so, stop fighting me!”

I held my ground, if I gave in, she’d win the argument, but after hearing another loud cry, I caved, letting her drag me into the kitchen where she prepared four ham sandwiches.


4


As I took the seat facing away from the kitchen window, I felt my hands shake as the sound of quiet sobs attacked me mercilessly. Bridget put a plate of two ham sandwiches topped with crunchy lettuce and a slice of the juicy tomato I bought two days ago after work. I grabbed the sandwich and, feeling the juices soak through the wheat bread, took the biggest bit I could manage without choking. A deep shudder ran up my back and I took a panicked breath, feeling tasteless juices go down the wrong pipe. I coughed, the entire bite flying into the napkin that lay next to my plate. My eyes began to water, tainted spittle flew out of my mouth, and I could feel my entire body shake.  Bridget quickly got up, grabbed the cup of water to the left of my plate, wrapped one arm around my back and told me to drink. Grabbing the cup with my shaking hands, I took one long gulp. The water helped, and after a few more hacks, I finally stopped coughing, but I couldn’t stop shaking.

“What’s wrong, Eric?” Bridget said, motherly worry thick in her voice.

“I-I don’t k-know,” I said, air reentering my body, slowly easing the pressure in my head.

She grabbed my wrists. “You’re shaking!”

“No s-shit, Sherlock.”  Her grip tightened up unbearable levels. “Sorry.”

“That’s more like it.” she released her death grip. “Now why are you shaking?”

“I told y-you, I don’t f-fucking know!” I clenched my eyes as my breathing stopped for a few endless seconds. When I could breath again, I was wrapped in both Bridget’s arms, my head resting against her plump chest.

“You’re afraid of something, tell me.”

As she pressed her hand against the back of my head, I could smell the perfume she put on this morning and feel her chest pillows push my head up. If this were under different circumstances (ones that didn’t include a possibly dangerous unicorn foal) I would be very happy, but they weren't and Bridget was just trying to cheer me up.

I tested the waters, trying to break free of my warm prison cell, but it was more instinct than curiosity as Bridget did this to me almost twice a month, helping me through my fears, and as long as I don’t get any ideas, she’ll keep doing it.

“I’m afraid of her” I said pointing to Bane’s cage. 

“Well she’s probably more afraid of you than you are of her.”

I felt Bridget’s arms release me and knowing my time was up, I sat straight and looked her in the eyes. “No, for all I know she can kill me with some kind of magic blast. She could be dangerous!”

“If she’s dangerous, then why didn’t she kill you when you touched her back?”

“Ahh?”

“And if she’s dangerous, then why would she cower after Bane came to lick your face?”

“Just because she’s afraid doesn’t mean she isn’t dangerous!”

“That’s not the point, Eric.” Bridget grabbed my arms again. “She’s alone with no one she can trust except your dog. Imagine if you were trapped in a world that wasn’t your own where the inhabitants were four times your size. She’s alone, Eric, and she’s ten times more afraid of you than you are of her!”

I turned to the cage, eyeing two giant purple eyes as they stared at me, fear glazed over them like film. I heard tiny gasps as she pressed herself against Bane’s body. It was the exactly what I would do if I were in her situation. 

I turned back to see that Bridget had gotten up. She moved to the counter where a small empty porcelain bowl was placed. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Eric.” she grabbed the box of Applejacks I kept on top of the refrigerator. “But, I’ll bet you she’s overjoyed to hear that she’s not the only one who’s scared.” she poured the cereal into the bowl, the sound of chemically enhanced carbohydrates hitting porcelain was the only thing that broke the awkward silence.

“What’s with the cereal?”

“It’s for her. I know she’s hungry, and for some strange reason, she’ll only eat Applejacks. Something about them reminding her of a friend of her mother, I don’t know, but,” she turned to me, looking me straight in the eyes. “I need you to stay calm around her. She’s only just beginning to trust us, and I want to help her.” She grabbed my shirt, tugging it with intimidating force. “If you do anything to scare her I’ll kill you.” she let me go.

Damn it, I’m shaking again

“Don’t fret, Eric, just stay calm and don’t do anything stupid, Okay. Can you promise me that?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good, now finish your lunch.”

“Y-You’re not my mother.”

“No, I’m your closest friend who got you a job that came with a house, so just do as I tell you.”

“No need to bring that up,” I said turning with a grunt and picking up the sandwich with a crescent shaped indent.

God damn it, Bridget’s on her side and now she’s treating me like a kid! I couldn’t stop shaking, the thought of a mythological creature living in my house and eating my Applejacks. No, Eric, stop thinking of stupid things. If that unicorn is a child, and that child scares you, then doing something to that child will piss of her… Mother. Fuck! It’s like a mother bear coming to protect her cub, if I fuck up then I’m dead. 

This has nothing to do with pride or earning Bridget’s respect; I need to keep that unicorn safe so the mother doesn’t kill me.


5


Once I was done with my sandwiches, I put the plate in the sink and began to wash them, hoping it would distract me from what was living in my dog’s cage. The sound helped, but I kept feeling like I was being watched by a pair of purple eyes that were way too big to be natural. 

I felt an overpowering urge to lock myself in my room and wait until the magical beast either died or left. I wanted to curl up in bed and pretend none of this was happening, but I had to get across the living room first.

When the two dishes were drying on the rack, I precariously turned around, keeping my eyes centered on the floor, not to look for little cracks, but so I didn’t make eye contact with her. All started out well, I was able to follow the slanting rays of sun and get to the hallway without spotting a single blue hair, but something I didn’t factor in for whatever reason, was Bridget.

“I hope you aren’t going to hide again.” Bridget said in an accusing tone that made me stop dead in my tracks. “I need you here so our friend can get used to the both of us.”

Fuck I thought, feeling my heartbeat pick up. She always has to make things harder for me! But you need to stop running away from your problems. A stone descended into my gut and I felt myself stop breathing for a few seconds. You know I’m right. 

I clenched my fist, a stinging pain pulsing from where nail met flesh. “Oh-Okay, Bridget, just let me get something from my room.”

“Hurry up, I don’t know how long she’ll wait for her food.” I couldn’t tell if Bridget was glaring at me or if she was, but I felt something sting in the back of my head.

Moving on, I contemplated locking myself in, but quickly figured that Bridget would just break the door down so that was out of the question. As I entered the room, a cool wave of relief washed over my mind as the sight of my messy bed with its large heavy blanket hanging on the edge of the mattress came into view. I felt the need to walk over, fall asleep and let the waning sunlight lead me to a wonderland where no worry can follow, but I couldn’t and I knew it. 

I quickly grabbed the nameless orange bean pillow I bought at the local thrift store back when I lived in Virginia with my mother. It was the only thing from my past I still owned, and I slept with it every night in remembrance of my childhood innocence.

Holding it close, I could smell my childhood house and see the thrift store it came from. A small wooden structure that was in need of a few roof repairs. The words “Louisa Medstar Thrift shop” were painted on top of the door in big letters with red lead based paint. I could smell the musk that came from some wood rot in the door itself, remembered holding my mother’s chubby hand as she said “One thing, Eric.”

“Okay, Mommy,” I whispered to myself as burning memories came rushing to my head. I rushed upstairs, being told by my friend, John Haybert that that was where the good stuff was. I could hear my mother saying “Slow down, Eric!” and feel the wooden boards creaking under foot. I could hear the crackle of thunder bringing the scheduled rain, and felt myself flinch in the same way I do now. When I reached the top of the stairs I shouted “I win!” like any seven year old would. Other patrons looked at me with smiles that said “What a cute child” but some of them only flinched away at the sound of my voice.

As I waited for my Mom to come up I saw the room I wanted to go into and could see very colorful things that I couldn’t wait to inspect with the same respect a geologist would a surgical tool, with awe. 

When I saw, Mom grabbing the second to last rickety hand rail, I rushed inside, and when I did, the sight of an orange pillow brought my heart a flame. Touching it made me think of squeezing runny silly putty, but instead of seeing it slip through my fingers, I felt it, and it felt awesome! 

But that euphoria quickly died as the orange pillow turned into a roaring fire. I could feel its blistering heat, see people who moments ago were looking at the wears burst into flames, hear their screams of agony as they fell out of the second floor window into a torrential downpour. I could smell roasting flesh as the few who couldn’t escape were burned alive.

	Burned alive!

The sound of crackling clothes and flaming wood soon grew and I felt the structure buckle under its own weight.

	I… I could have died

But before I delved any further into the memory, I felt something tap my shoulder. 

With a scream I jumped, hitting my head on the metal spring board that lay under my bed. The comforter gave some cushion, but pain still bloomed in the right side of my head. Rubbing the tender spot I looked up to see Bridget, her pale green eyes filled with worry, and her left hand clutching my bean pillow.

I moved my hand lower to wipe up the tears I didn’t realize I shed, and huddled into the fetal position, vivid images swamping my suddenly strained mind.

“Let’s go,” Bridget said, her voice cutting through my head fog like a hot knife through butter. I gave no resistance as she pulled me to my feet, moving towards the living room while wrapping her arm around my side in a one handed hug.

She lead me back to the living room, where I could feel my anxiety building in my chest, and the sight of giant unnatural purple eyes greeted me with fear. Bane had come out after Bridget filled his food bowl so I could see the unicorn’s entire blue body. She held her two tiny arms over her head but occasionally lifted them up to check if we were still there. I looked towards the kitchen to check the time, noting that it had been an hour since I woke up. It felt like a year though. 

“I don’t know what happened to you back there, but I need you to—”

“Yes, you need me here so your pet won’t be afraid.” Bridget glared at me and before I knew it I was on the ground, pain pulsing from where I hit the bed spring. I picked up the bean pillow and clutched it close, hoping it would help my body calm down, but nothing seemed to stop the violent shaking.

“I need you to shut up.” she leaned closer, sliding the bowl of Applejacks along the wood floor towards the blue monster in the dog cage. “I think she understands us, Eric.”

“Bridget, I think you mean she’s sentient.”

“No, sentient means she can feel and perceive emotion; I think she’s more than that.” she pushed the bowl until it was about two feet away from the cage in hopes of coaxing her out. “More man than beast if you know what I mean.”

I knew exactly what she meant, remembering the incident where she asked for help opening the cage door, but I didn’t want to know what she meant. I wanted to keep believing there were no such things as aliens and that humans were the smartest things on the planet. I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t, where would I go? What would I do? How would I keep Bridget from finding me?

The thought of running away calmed my nerves a little as it helped me forget that there was a candy coated mythological creature in my dog’s cage, and as I formulated a plan, my hands shook a little less. I could go to new hampshire or massachusetts, find a job and rent an apartment. Stress melted off my mind as I nervously checked to see if my wallet was in my pocket.

It wasn’t

Fear began to take its grip back on my frail heart and I curled up again. My plan was shattered. If I try to run I wouldn’t make it very far if I had no access to my money. Even if I did, Bridget could track me with my debit purchases and bring me back. I was trapped. 
As if to add to my terror, images of the fire came back to my mind. Fresh pictures of my mother grabbing me before she jumped out of the window into the rain. I broke out into a cold sweat as the heat of the fire rose from the pillow I stole from the burning thrift shop, and I could feel tears slip down my cheeks. Her blood washing away in the downpour, the blood of the hospital, those screams of agony. 

I screamed, a loud shrill scream that made Bridget jump in shock and Bane bark. It was too much, my mind couldn’t take it. I got up, not caring about Bridget being faster or that I didn’t have my wallet, and ran for the door. I tried to open the wooden contraption, but forgot that I always locked it whenever I came home. Panic struck with each little click the knob made and I thought the building would burst into flames at any second, but, even with all of my strength the damn door wouldn’t open. 

Bridget rushed me, pinning me to the door even though I couldn’t escape. The added heat threw me over the edge and I broke down into tears. 

“What the Hell has gotten into you!”

I didn’t respond, I couldn’t, the only thing that came out of my mouth were infantile cries. I slid down the doorway, my feeble resistance crumbling as the wood scraped my cheek. Snot rolled down my face, getting into my mouth and on my shirt. I tried to wipe my eyes so I could see, but nothing responded to my command and I fell into a sloping pitiful mess on the ground.

Cheeks a fiery red, I felt Bridget wrap me into another hug. I wanted to resist, but couldn’t, closing my eyes tightly I pressed my face into her velvet scented sweatshirt.

“I don’t know what happened,” Bridget said stroking my head. “And It’s alright to cry, but… I just wish I could help you! Do something to ease the no doubt traumatic pain you are feeling… but I- ‘hic’ I can’t!” Embarrassment weighed my lips down so I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t move my traitorous limbs at all. I never felt so helpless, not even at my mother’s funeral. “ Nothing I know about you, no event in your life, no nothing!” She tightened her hug and I could feel tiny tear drops hitting the back of my head. “Nothing, goddamn it!”  she broke down herself, resting her head on top of mine as her emotions flowed through my hair. “Nothing!”


After twenty minutes, my tears began to subside; Bridget still held me captive, and Bane had placed his front paws onto my back and rested his head on the back of my neck. I still hiccuped every now and again, but for the most part my breathing had stabilized. 

Feeling the simple presence of the two living things I care about in this world made my tears flow easier, and soon my fears abated as a cool gust of relief blew over my shattered mind. I could still see the images of the burning thrift shop, but they seemed farther away, smaller I guess, kind of like the sirens of a passing ambulance. The doppler effect except with memories in a sense, but just as I think the worst has passed, something new came forth.

Neither Bane nor Bridget could see it, but while we were crying, someone had nervously approached, someone blue.

The sight of the filly unicorn startled me to say the least, and I pulled back a little in a vain attempt to get away. She moved back, a worried look on her face, but stopped, then stepped forward again, moving one step closer to me.

I couldn’t stop looking at her face; the way her eyes stared at me, not with blind fear, but worry, and it wasn’t the kind of worry Bane gave, this worry was focused, directed, at me.

“A-Are y-you oh kay?” her voice was barely audible over everything else, but I heard it as if she shouted into a megaphone, and it wasn’t just the fact that she spoke that startled me this time. I could hear a heavy tinge of concern in her squeaky voice.

“More man than beast, if you know what I mean” Bridget’s voice echoed inside my head.

My lips trembled, slowly rising into a small smile. I physically felt my fear melt away, kind of like tears dropping off of my body, and I wondered why I was afraid of this innocent little filly.

Slowly, so not to scare her, I raised my free arm and gently patted her head. Once she felt more comfortable I started to scratch behind her ears like I would with Bane, and she really liked that, but when I left, a certain guilty smile you only see when a child wants more but can’t bring himself to ask came over her face. It warmed my heart to see something so innocent in a world like ours, and, with an open arm, I invited her into the hug. She was quick to agree, giving a little squeal of joy before rushing me.

It was the first time I held her, and after staying in Bane’s cage for the entire day, I could tell she needed a bath, but unlike giving Bane a bath, I was some what excited and curious to give her one. Would she be more like Bane or a child? Would she like the attention or shy away from it? Would she feel embarrassed at the mere thought of someone other than her mother bathing her? So many thoughts spun around my head and for once the confusion was welcome.  I’d rather be confused than think of my mother dying any day. 


As Eclipse nuzzled my cheek, I completely forgot about Drake and the landslide, and won't remember the former until the end of the week when my pretty little world burns to ash. 
> Bathtime
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


It was early evening, and my day off has become the randomest and most emotional I’ve had in years, but now I lay on my white couch, a copy of Stephen King’s newest novel opened in my lap as I tried to focus on the things that happened no more than an hour ago.

Turns out my new friend and inadvertent housemate was named Eclipse, and unlike what I thought, she didn’t like having someone in the room (who wasn’t her mother) when she took a bath, but I have a feeling that she’s going to need help when she needs to clean behind her ears. 

I don’t know how I could have forgotten such an extravagant name as Eclipse, but I did, and as I am now realizing I forgot everything that happened last night, tripping on an unmarked basket, the unicorn whose life I saved by starting a fire. I bet you that if Eclipse had left while I slept, I would just go about my life as if nothing ever happened. 

Why, well I will need to talk to the little filly that thinks she’s big enough to take a bath on her own to find that answer out.

On another note, I never thought of my mother’s death being in a thrift shop fire, or its connections with the orange bean pillow I bought online… I think...my memory has been real foggy ever since Eclipse’s arrival, and it’s starting to bug me.

And something was off about that memory. It was extremely blurry. It scared the crap out of me, but I couldn’t tell anyone apart from my mother, who had a bandage over her right eye. The kind of bandage used after skin grafts, but why would my mother have a bandage like that before she gets burned? What does it all mean? Do I even know how my Mother died? No, I have to… she died from being burned in the thrift shop fire… but… no that doesn’t make any sense. Why would…

“Oh I’ll look it up tonight,” I said, slamming my book shut and getting up off of the couch. “Right now I need to make sure, Princess Eclipse isn’t burning my house down with soap.” I moved to the bathroom door that lay across from my room, smelling a nerve rackingly strong soapy odor coming from the otherside.

I halted, my fingernails digging into my palm, grunts of anger seeping from my mouth, I don’t know where this anger came from, but I feel like punching her in the face! I took a long, shaky, breath, that would get me nowhere with someone like Eclipse. She’s afraid of her own shadow when she’s around me, and while she’s gotten better at interacting with me, I should know to take things slow, not burst a blood vessel over the possibility of losing a few bottles of shampoo. She’s just a kid, maybe a bubble bath will make her feel more welcome. 

“I really want to get to know her more,” I said, my own voice startling me.

Taking a deep breath, followed shortly by another, I raised my hand and knocked as politely as I could. “Eclipse?” 

Nothing

“Eclipse, you need some help?”

Again nothing

“Eclipse, I’m coming in.” First I was angry now I was concerned, deeply. What if she slipped and smacked her muzzle on the tub’s bottom? What if she drowned? “I’ll kill you if you’re dead!” 

Grabbing the door I heard the familiar “click click” of it being locked and tried harder to open it. My rage was beginning to blind me so much that, if the door wasn’t locked, I might have actually killed her. Very emotional day I thought, bleeding the rage out with a couple more angry grunts. When I finished, I took a deep breath, letting the cold Maine air sting my throat as the smell of bath soaps assaulted my nose. With a loud exhale I left the door, worry washing over me the moment I realized my outburst could have scared her, and headed to my room. 

Wanting to take some extra time to release my emotions, I made my bed, feeling the gentle cold of the plush blanket center my vision, and opened the sliding window, hearing the creaking of unoiled hinges striking my mind and bringing myself back, and let a cold blast of the outside air hit me in the face. It was mid october right now, which meant that Jack Frost was on his way, and no one should be outside when Jack frost made Maine his new home.

With my bed made, window shut and mind clear I grabbed my keys and headed back to the hallway. 

After locating the smallest of five keys, I slid the metal into the hole, feeling the locking pins bounce up and down with its master’s entrance. I can’t remember why I locked the door in the first place, or why I left a filly in the bathroom alone expecting her to take care of herself, maybe I was stupid, or maybe I’m just having a bad day. I did in fact forget how my own mother died and was taking care of a unicorn filly, so I should cut myself some slack.

Everytime I twisted a key I felt like it would break, and the last thing I wanted was to have a locksmith come over and find a possibly drowned unicorn in my bathtub, that didn’t happen and the door opened with ease.

As I entered the bathroom, the smell of soaps disappeared, being replaced by a stale lysol lemon scent. The linoleum floors weren’t wet meaning there wasn’t any kind of splashing or struggle. The sink and mirror were spotless. The entire bathroom was exactly the same as it was before I left for the couch.

Turning my attention to the bathtub, I see that none of the bottles of soap were even touched, and the little blue filly is still sitting exactly where I left her, her eyes trained on me… fear evident. 

“You okay?” I said. It was much easier to speak calmly after I saw that Eclipse was just fine.

“P-Please d-don’t kill me.” she put her hooves over her head as if to protect herself from my fists. “I-I’m sorry f-for taking too long.”

“Woah woah, who said anything about me killing you?” My heart picked up its pace, pounding away as I watched her every emotion. 

Face contorting, going from fear to confusion in the matter of seconds, she looked at me, head cocked and eyebrow raised. “But, you said—”

“Oh, what I said was I’ll kill you if your dead, something that’s not possible.” I looked at her, watching for the signs of fight or flight. “I would never kill you.” When none arose I moved forward, flinching when she pressed her back against the tub wall, and crouched to make myself look smaller. “Relax, Eclipse, I won't hurt you. It’s just been a stressful day.”

“M-M-My Mommy, when ever she-she’s having… having a ‘hic’ a b-bad—”

“Breath, Eclipse.” I started to crawl towards her.

“W-When m-my… Mommy...” I saw that she stopped breathing again, her face contorting in mild terror, and moved a little quicker. “B-ba… day…” She gasped when I planted my open hand on her head and would have hit the wall if I didn’t hold her in place. 

“Eclipse,” I said, staring into her scared purple eyes. “I need you to do one thing for me, can you do that?” as I expected, she only hicced in response, but it made me smile. “Can you breath?” She could breath alright, but it was more hyperventilating than breathing. This made my smile grow. 

I felt her skin crawl under my hands, hear the dread in every breath she took, but did nothing to ease her fears, and the more terrified she got the bigger my smile grew. But not for the reason you think, I didn’t think of this reason until I saw her sitting in a tube of lukewarm water doing nothing.  

“P-P-Please don’t kill me!” She screeched, tears pouring down her face.

I closed my hand, feeling her fur tickle my fingertips. She let out another shriek, this one biting my ears, and didn’t stop until I began to itch behind her ear. Feeling this, she broke down, placing her head on the edge of the tub.

“Eclipse,” I said, thinking about her reaction to my mind game, her palpable fear and honest belief that I would kill her. It made me laugh, and I sat there, giggling like a schoolgirl. I laughed and laughed, but made sure to keep itching her ear. “Eclipse, if I were going to kill you, I would have done it by now.” This made her gasp and shake, turning her cries into wails. “Sorry, I guess I should stop using the ‘k’ word.” I made a mental note, letting my smile grow again before continuing: “What I’m trying to say is that you’re safe with me.” Safe, that word made her stop for a moment. “Yes, you are very safe with me,” I continued scratching her ear. “Again, if I wanted to… hurt you I would have done it by now.”

I sat there a few minutes longer muttering the words “You’re Safe” and scratching behind her ear as she cried, and the more I saw her the more my smile grew. 

Eclipse was something special, very special in fact. In my bathtub was a mythological creature that defied everything I know by not only being able to talk, but having the mind of a human child. Her ability to remember the words I’ve said as well as the feeling behind them was remarkable, and her innocent nature was incredibly adorable. I’d bet that if I said “Do you want a cookie?” her eyes would glow and a giant smile would plaster itself on her face despite what I said about killing her. 

But one thing that is even more immaculate was this urge to protect her I have. If at that moment, someone came into the bathroom with a gun, I feel like I could easily take a bullet for her. It was a peculiar feeling and I intended on doing some research once her needs are taken care of.

“Okay, let’s get you cleaned.” I ignored the groan of disapproval she gave and grabbed the mint scented bottle of axe shampoo at the other end of the tub. 

As I massaged the green goop into her fur her muscles started to give way, and once her tears stopped coming, a moan of relief slip through her lips. Soon her iron grip on the side of the tub loosened and would have made a splash if my hand wasn’t there to catch her.

When she was done, and half of my mint shampoo gone, I pulled the sock from the drain, the sudden noise taking her out of the light sleep she was in. I soothed her by rubbing her back with my professional rubbing hand, the one I earned from giving too many belly rubs to Bane, and soon she gave a cute little snort before letting her head fall back against the side.

I went to grab another towel from the laundry right outside the bathroom, a certain sense of pride welling up in me, and wrapped her in its white wonder. She seemed to enjoy it, giving off another little moan of pleasure as she delved further into sleep. 
It made sense for her to be falling asleep, she might not have gotten a lot of it last night, fearing for her life, that, and I just gave her a warm massage so, she might not have it in her to stay awake for much longer. My smile grew once more as she shuffled into a more comfortable position on my shoulder, resting her head and letting her body melt into mine. 

My plan is to set her on one of the pillows in the living room and let her take a well deserved nap while I did some research on her appearance, but that wasn’t meant to be. My foot slipped on a slick spot and I fell back throwing Eclipse into the air. 
Each step I took to try and regain my balance ended with me slipping on another spot. If I had looked up at that moment however, I would have seen Eclipse’s horn glow with a dark blue hue.

I lost contact with the floor and could see Eclipse floating up to the ceiling in slow motion. The collision stopped her scream for the briefest of moments. I hit the back on my head on the tiled floor and the pain exploded in my mind. I held out my hands to catch her, but the Eclipse I saw had some how multiplied into three and I couldn’t figure out which one to catch. Everything went black and I lost all Eclipses that were falling to the ground.

Moments later my head hit the floor again and Eclipse cannonballed right onto my stomach, knocking the wind right out of me.

“Yay!” The sound was faint and everything was still black. “Do it ah- Ow- gen, do it” her voice was beginning to grow, and I could hear the pain that tinted her words. “Ow, Ow, Ow, okay don’t do it again, don’t do it again!... OWWWW!” She fell off of my gut allowing me to breath again. Opening my eyes, the bathroom light seemed to assault my mind as the pain pulsed in the back of my head. “Ow ‘hic’ Ow, make the pain go away.”  With a groan, I turned my head, light finally returning to normal. 

I saw Eclipse lying on the floor curled up into a little blue ball. Her cries felt like an MMA master was punching me in the gut. I got up, my world spinning and was quick to lose my balance. After three failed attempts, and three more head injuries, I finally got to her side. 

When I put my hand on her shoulder she gasped, turning her head at such speeds that I could hear her neck crack. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and, in the first second she looked at me like I was a monster, filled with fear, but once her mind connected ‘me’ with ‘you’re safe’ she gasped again and rushed me, wrapping her small arms around my waist and burying her face into my shirt.

My smile came back, although this time it was tainted with the pain the still pulsed from the back of my head; she was acting just like a human child, running to the nearest familiar face, a simple thought magnetizing the action, He’ll make everything better. A primitive thought that helps bind mother and daughter and every friendship oriented species together. A bond known as trust.  
“Where does it hurt?” She didn’t gasp when I picked her up nor did she cringe or give any outward signs of hesitation when I used my other hand to stroke her back.

“Ha-Here,” she said, pointing towards the left side of her head. 

“Want me to kiss it and make it better?”

There was hesitation, I saw it in her eyes, but it didn’t last and she quickly replied with a whiny “yes.”  

My breathing sharpened and I could feel excitement curl through my body, threatening to take control. Being quick I held her by her armpits and planted a short kiss on the left side of her head. When I pulled away I saw that she was looking downward, a blush apparent even through her fur. “What’s wrong?” My voice seem to shock her out of some kind of state as she gasped, not a pain filled gasp, but an embarrassed one, like her mother found her with a young colt. 

“N-Nothing… it’s just m-my mommy usually kisses my boo boos and makes them all better, not… you.”

Something felt off, I hadn’t expected that reaction from her, blunt honesty that was almost being… held back. Not even a human child of her age (I’m guessing six) would be so tactful.

“Oh, I see how it is,” I said, coating my voice with spite. “I’m not good enough for ya”

“No, that’s not it at all!” The blush grew as her voice hitched up an octave from surprise. “I’m just not used to anyone but Mommy kissing my boo boos, that’s all! Please don’t hate me because of that!”

I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing, not even noticing that I dropped her to the ground. “I was joking Eclipse,” I said through my laughs. “And… and you’ve done nothing to earn my hate, so relax.”

“Oh Haha, very funny, Eric,” she said, faux anger welling in her eyes. She moved across the floor towards her towel, winching every now and again when a new pulse of pain came from her head. “You’re a jerk!”

I was about to respond, but one look in the mirror made me stop. She didn’t have a scowl on her face, not even a frown, there was a tiny, appreciative smile, and while the rest of her face shouted her embarrassment, that one smile told a different story.
“No need to thank me, Eclipse, I do it for a living.”

“I’m not THANKING  you!” she shouted, but again she hid her embarrassment as a small delicate smile formed. “I-I don’t like jokes like that” She tightened the towel around her body hoping it would hide her face.

I looked at her for a few moments, my smile coming back with a vengeance at the sight of her wrapping herself in a towel twice her size. It was like she was returning to a more... comfortable position in life, letting me make all the scary decisions as her mommy and daddy  did back where she lived. A child’s life is one of happyness, of letting others make big decisions for you so you didn’t have to worry, but most importantly of safety and closure whenever something scared you. Eclipse was fitting into this familiar life like a puzzle piece, letting me be the one to make those big decisions and soothe her fears away when she gets scared. 
“Come on, let’s get you dried off so I can give you a tour of where you’ll be living.” I got up, grimacing as pain pulsed in the back of my head, and grabbed her. “At least until your mom or dad picks you up that is.”

I heard a loud gasp come from under the towel.  “Ya-You mean I-I can stay?” It was like she was dreading the question. “I w-won’t be a b-burden?”

I turned her around, wiping the towel off of her face, seeing that beautiful smile of hers as well as a few hopeful tears falling from her giant purple eyes. “Yes you can stay, and as long as you follow my rules you will never be a burden.” Seeing her give a truly bright smile made my heart well with so much joy I thought it might explode. I knew having a unicorn filly living in my house will bring complications to my life, with food bills and what not, but I couldn’t even think of an innocent soul like her’s being out on the streets where she might be raped and beaten, or worse, killed. 

I gasped a little myself when the feeling of soft, damp, fur slowly wrapping around my left leg brought me out of my thoughts. Looking down I saw Eclipse hugging my legs, glints of the tears coming from eyes, and the little hics that came from her mouth as she tried to word her thank you. 

I grabbed the towel that was slipping from her body and began to dry her off. As I did so I could literally feel her muscles relaxing under my touch and began to wonder how long that question burned in her mind. When I was done I broke her lovefest with my leg and brought her into a tight hug, which she highly appreciated, silently crying into my shirt as her pent up worry  melted down her face in the form of tears.

“Th-ank you… Thank you sooooo ‘hic’ much, Eric”

I stayed silent, rubbing her back while she let it all out into my shirt.

But before she could finish, the knock came at the door.
> Research 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Drake Manwell, a lankey twenty six year old that worked in the mail department at Maine Wildlife Park. His day started in room 108 of the Best Western off of I-63. A cramped single bed room with one bathroom and a 30’ inch sony flat screen that got about twenty channels outside CBS and 9 news now. When he got his promotion from mail line worker to maile line supervisor, he upgraded his service to fifty channels. Now he gets fox5 for his lonely superbowl parties and the military channel so he can learn about World War ll round the clock.

Drake swore off the drink two years ago after nearly crashing into a five year old pulling the old ball in the street gag, trying to replace the ethanol rich beverage with black lemon tea, adding some lemon juice to imitate the bitterness of the real thing, but  it only lasted a year.

After falling out of the twin sized bed Drake would take an ice cold shower, racing to see how fast he could get out and warm up (his record is a minute and a half) following this up with a cup of black coffee. 

Drake Manwell has been arrested three times for pedophilia and became a registered sex offender in 2016. No one plans to become a pedophile and he knew his mother would give him five across the ass if she ever caught him touching a little boys premature love stick, but that’s the problem, his mother was gone.

It started when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. He was just ten at the time and didn’t have a firm grasp on the concept of death yet. It was slow at first, the cancer going into remission twice before doing her in, but it quickened, growing malignant and taking her life the third time round. 

“Third time’s the charm,” Drake stood next to, Aleshia Manwell’s grave, a bouquet of violets in his gloved hands.  He visited his mother’s grave whenever he was thinking of kicking the bucket, hoping for a little company in his somber life, but  all he gets is a wall to talk, and cry, to.

His urges didn’t start until he was fifteen, after his sister passed from blood poisoning when she accidentally picked up the wrong heroin needle.

“Miranda took to the needle and I took to the little children,” he told the granite slab, crickets. “You ripped me off you dirty skank and I hope you rot in hell!” He threw the bouquet to the ground, its petals fluttering in the chilly fall air as tears mixed with the rain. “You got to fucking die while I have to sort fucking mail and check in with child fucking protective services so they know I’m clean.” He was shouting like he always did at four in the morning. 

Drake never wanted to be a pedophile; it’s just, whenever he sees a happy little child hug his mother, or a sad one get his ‘boo boo’s made all better, he felt his hatred for the lucky ones, as he called them, boil over, and when it became too much he stole the child, either finding him alone off to the candy store with the dollar he whined off mommy or playing with his friends, and he would grab him. 

“They have something I don’t!” he cried into the freezing rain, letting the downpour put out his fiery anger. 

The only thing keeping him going was the thought of reclaiming the house his mother died in, but right after his mother’s death the house was sold to the current owner, Eric Winters, whom he knew nothing about. “One damn day, Mom, one day I’ll reclaim what is rightfully ours and then, then I’ll be happy. Nothing else matters to me, I will, I swear I will Mom, and once I have it, I’ll find my way to you.” He looked at the gravestone, purple petals scattered around like a decorative border. His fists were starch white and he could feel his unclipped nails dig into his tender flesh, like booze the pain was welcome and once he felt his blood trickle down his palm he released his grip. “I need to call Eric again, Bridget said he’d be awake by now.” 

1





Knock… Knock… Knock 

I was in the bathroom holding Eclipse as she silently wept into my shoulder. I could feel her tears soak through my shirt and wondered if she even noticed the knocking. 

	Knock… Knock… Knock

How could I have been so stupid? I thought. There is no way I could hide a unicorn from the world! 

Hide

I blinked, a simple word stopped me dead in my tracks. 

Hide 

I looked around the bathroom for anywhere to hide Eclipse The tub, no too obvious… the sink, no, even more obvious. Everywhere I looked was either too obvious or too dirty. 

Knock… Knock… Bang

My heart dropped, the person was getting impatient. It could be a reporter, or a scientist trying to take Eclipse and… and experiment on her! 

“No, can’t let that happen.” An anaconda wrapped itself around me chest and began squeezing. 

“Hic… what happen, E-Ewic?” 

	Bang… Bang… Bang

She flinched, tightening her grip on me while hiding her face against my constricted chest. “W-what was… dat?”

If I wasn’t scared shitless, I’d get my notebook and start documenting her, but I am, and there would be no document if the subject is taken away. “Eclipse” I said hoping my voice didn’t betray my fear. “I need you to hide for a little while.”

She tensed, her cries seizing with a loud gasp, like she was holding her breath; I could see her tears force themselves out instead of flowing like a little stream, and the grunts she made gave her own fear away, but when I stroked her mane with a shaky hand she seemed to calm a little. Finally she let go, her tears flowed freely again and she repressed herself against my chest, her breathing turning into frantic hyperventilation. “D-D- Don’t g-go Ewic… I-I’m —” 

BANG BANG BANG! 

She screamed, clawing at my shirt, her towel falling to the floor, exposing her to the biting air and screamed again.

“Shhh,” I felt each bang on the front door like it was me getting pounded. “Everything is going to be okay.” I tightened my grip on her, took a deep breath and continued. “You just hide and I’ll send whoever’s at the door away.” If Eclipse is going to trust me, I need to do my part and be strong so she didn’t have to. “Okay?”

She huddled close, soft sniffles escaping her. “Oh “hic’ kay” She sounded defeated, like she was throwing in the white flag, unable to go on. 

“Stop worrying Eclipse,” I smiled, bouncing her in my arms. She gave a startled squeak as I set her into a sitting position and stared at me with her giant purple eyes. “I told you I’d take care of whoever’s at the door, didn’t I?” She looked at my shaking arms, then looked at me, then nuzzled my chest and I could see her muscles relax. 

“Okay, Eric.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll hide wherever you tell me to.” Closing her eyes she seemed to listen to my heartbeat, and soon her breathing slowed. Moments later she gave a soft snore, curled up in a ball and yawned before saying: “I’m too tired to ‘Yawn’ care right now.” With that she rested her head on my lap, falling into a shallow but peaceful sleep, leaving herself completely defenseless.

I smiled and, just like when she was taking a bath, it was a large smile. She looked too cute lying there with her little horn sticking out of her head, I couldn’t help stroking her mane, and from her little coos, I think she enjoyed it.

I was about to get up when a shadow appeared at the window. 

“AWWWWW That’s soooo cute!”

“What?” It was then that I realized the knocking stopped. I turned to the window, seeing Bridget pressing her face against the glass, her phone in her left hand.

“I left my key inside, can you open the damn door?”

Oh, it was Bridget at the door? Wait… where did she go!?  I sighed, that didn’t matter. It was Bridget, someone I could trust, not a reporter or scientist. 

I got up and went to the door, Eclipse sleeping in my arms. The fading light of the sun forcing me to cover my eyes, and saw that she had changed. She now wore a light pink tee shirt with a deep purple jacket protecting her from the bitter cold that passed through the open crossway. She looked to have two pairs of pants on, one purple and the other a swirl of pink and green. I recognized them as the pair of pajama pants she wore the last time I slept over at her house, but one thing that threw me for a loop was the badge she had pinned to her left jacket pocket. It was her work badge. I noticed then that she had taken her makeup off and let her light brown hair fall against her face, slightly damp from a rain shower I must have missed, that or she took a shower before getting here.

“Why do you have your badge?” I said welcoming her in. 

“Well I’m sleeping over, duh. How else would I get to play dress up with my newest friend?”

I should have expected this. Bridget spends the night whenever I get something new and cool. It happened with Black ops, cards against humanity and now it’s happening with a baby unicorn.

“I’b not a… baby.” Eclipse mumbled in her sleep, shifting around until she had her forehooves locked against my throat.

“Ohhh, she’s so cute!” Bridget tried to take Eclipse from me, and if it were anything else I’d let her, but this time, it was different. 

I swirled around, using my back to keep her hands away from Eclipse. “What???” she said with a long whine. 

“She’s sleeping, Bridget.” My heart was pounding, for the second time today I broke my daily routine and it made me want to throw up. “She’s had a long day so you’re going to have to come back tomorrow.” I internally gagged, a dull throb pressing against my left temple.

“But?”

“No, Bridget.” I moved to the couch. “You said it yourself, shes more man than beast.” I gently broke Eclipse’s love affair with my neck and placed her on my orange bean pillow. She sunk in, groaning in her sleep, struggling to find a comfortable position. I grabbed one of the towels I left by the fire last night and turned her into a burrito. When I finished she fell back into a deep sleep.
When I turned around to tell Bridget to leave, a sharp slap pierced my ears and pain billowed like smoke from my left cheek. “I didn’t pack all these dresses just to be kicked out by you, Eric… although”

I put my hand against my cheek. “Although what?”

“Although, it’s good to see that you’ve finally got some backbone.” she wrapped an arm around my neck. “I didn’t think I’d see the day you stood up for something.” 

“Well thanks, but I don’t want you waking her up, so if you could leave I’d be—” 

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen” she moved to pull her blue rolling suitcase inside. “It’s fine if you want her to sleep.” she fiddled with the zippers, “but I won’t be leaving until I put… where is it… ah, this on her.”  

It was a small dress, one with pink frocks and blue frills. Its small, apron like, blue swatch on the front made Bane whimper and hide in his cage. There was a giant pink polka dotted bow wrapping around the neck, and it seem to be falling apart. Seams were broken and exposed thread seemed to be the only thing holding the left arm together. The frill was dirtied and without the apron it would look like a sailor moon outfit after being thrown into a 90% discount basket.

“If Bane didn’t like it then why do you think Eclipse will?” I said, eyeing the dress.

“This is the same dress I wore during my beauty pageant appearance.”

“It wasn’t a beauty pageant, Bridget, your mother just had you walk down the sidewalk with three other girls.” 

“Okay, so it wasn’t official, but that isn’t going to stop me from putting it on Eclipse!”

“Keep it down,” I said motioning with my hands that Eclipse was still asleep.

“Sorry” she covered her mouth and I could see a blush grow against her cheeks. 

“Is it raining?”

“No, why?”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her out onto the front porch, checked to make sure the door was open before closing it. There I could feel the cold wind punch through my thin pajama pants, and I began to shiver. 

“LIsten, Bridget” The only thing I saw on her face was stark shock, and for one, I felt that same shock. “Eclipse isn’t some kind of toy, she’s like a puppy—”

“I know Eric, I was the one who told you she was more man than beast, but I guess you’re right.”

“Right? I haven’t even said anything.”

“No, you didn’t have to. I saw how protective you were of her, and since she’s giving you something of a backbone.” she complimented this with a hearty slap across the back. Which hurt “I’ll abide by your wishes and let her sleep.”

“Really!”  Pride welled in my heart like rising smoke. 

“But” My pride was wrapped in a fire blanket, extinguishing its warm and welcome glow. 

“But what?” I said with a whine.

“Oh nothing, I’ll just have to beat you in Mario Party while we wait.” She took off her purple coat and wrapped it around my shivering body. “Now let’s get you inside before you freeze.” 

“You’re not my mother!” I shouted embarrassment sitting in my stomach like a lead ball; the warm jacket doing its work. “S-stop” She pushed me inside, smiling all the way and when the warmth of the house could be felt once more, she grabbed Eclipse’s pillow, treating the sagging motion like a baby’s crib, rocking her to sleep without even noticing it. 

“I’ll just put her in your room, then I can beat you again.” 

“Sure… wait what?” But she had already closed the door. “I wanted to research Eclipse though.” 

No, I will, Bridget won’t stop me this time.

I sighed, taking the coat off and setting it on one of the kitchen chairs, then heading to the laundry closet and grabbed my laptop. 

Normally whenever I want to research something I’d do it at work, as I am pretty good at multitasking there, and I don’t like to work at home. I was given the laptop by Bridget for my 24th birthday, but I never opened it. 

I brushed the dust off the white cardboard case, wondering if I remembered the internet key code. It came with the house and is paid through my paycheck, but again, I never use it. If you’d ask me when I moved into this house that I’d only use my laptop when a filly unicorn showed up at my doorstep I’d laugh and say “Cool story”, but now, it was happening.

As I fiddled with the plastic cover, trying to open the damn thing, Bridget opened my door. 

“Well, Eclipse will sleep there, but only until dinner!” she said closing the door like she just put her own daughter down for a nap. “Now let’s get gaming!... Uh, Eric, what are you…” she paused, and a cold icicle dropped into my shirt, chilling my bones. “Is that the… laptop I got you three years ago?” I could taste the venom in her voice and suddenly I thought she’d dropped a packet of ice cubes down my pants.

“Now let me explain this.” she picked the white box with the words “Dell Pentium Processor” laser printed in black ink. 

“You… didn’t even OPEN IT!!” I wanted to scream apologies at her, beg for forgiveness, but my tongue had turned to stone. 
She took a deep breath, giving a long worried stare at the door she so delicately closed, listening for a “Wha?” or a “Keep it down!”, and when none came she gave a long sigh of relief, before glaring at me with hardened eyes. “Come with me,” she said in a long, hurt, tone.

I didn’t resist when she grabbed me, nor did I try to word an apology, for I was literally weighed down by the sudden guilt, barely able to move on my own. I tried to always keep my friends happy, but when I grabbed the laptop, I forgot about how easy it is to hurt Bridget’s feelings. In that moment I forget that she was even in my house, and it pained me physically whenever I fucked up.

Once again, the cold wind bit into my vulnerable skin, goosebumps crawling over my arms. “Why?” That one word spoken by her was enough to send the claws of guilt digging down my back.

“I’m sorry, Bridget.” I truly meant it

“I know you are.” she followed this with a swift punch to the gut and a kick to the dirt. The pain was immense and I found it hard to breath, but at the same time, I welcomed it. 

Whenever I fucked up, the only thing that helped calm me down was making myself suffer. It was a tingling sensation that brought an external conflict to distract me from my internal one, kind of like fighting a forest fire with another fire. I remember my days of cutting myself with a razor blade whenever I fucked up with friends. I’d hide away in my room and bring them out, Ersa and Bridget, I’d named my two favorite blades after the two people I was closest to. One night, when I was using ‘Bridget’, the real one barged in. I still remember the look of horror on her face when she saw my mutilated right forearm.

I was thrown from my dirty flashbacks when I felt the cold ground disappear from underneath me. “That’s enough Eric.” I looked up to Bridget, tiny streamlets falling from her eyes, her voice sounding just as shaky as Eclipse’s when she found that she could stay. It hurt more seeing her like that and knowing I brought her that pain. 

She threw me on the couch, pegging me with an ice pack I couldn’t figure what she wanted me to do with, and grabbed the dusty laptop box from in front of the laundry room. 

“So what did you want to use this for anyway?” she said ripping the box open. “It must be something important for you to risk me finding out that you didn’t use it for three fucking years.” She glared at me. “I’m still angry by the way.” 

She wasn’t, I could tell by her cool tone. If she were angry, I’d feel the fire in her eyes, but she was hurt, and I didn’t blame her. 

“I wanted to look up things on Eclipse, research her in a sense.”

“Slap!”

“You perv!” was all she said. 

Well, looking on the bright side I finally have a use for that ice pack. 

“Not like that, Bridget,” I said, chuckling through the pain. My joy grew as a look of confusion formed on her face. “I’m looking to find out how she came here, or what she eats. Maybe if she has some kind of connection with the internet, but mainly I want to learn how to take care of her.”

“Oh…” Bridget looked at me, gentle warmth seeping into her eyes, if the fireplace was going it might feel romantic. “In that case let me get my laptop.” She got up, passing me the dell laptop she hooked to the wifi, and went to the blue IZOD suitcase, the one where she held the torn Sailor Moon dress, unzipping the zipper and grabbing her small acer chromebook. I turned after pulling up google and saw something interesting. A pair of blue and black socks, they seem simple, but something about them was off, what I didn’t know. 

“Alright, let’s learn all we can!” Bridget shouted plopping her butt on the other side of the couch. “You ready Eric!”

“Yeah!” Both my pain and the socks were gone, the only thing that mattered was the giant smile on Bridget’s face. 

I turned my attention to my screen, admiring the newest Google logo. I wonder if Google changes that daily or weekly? Or if it’s different for every region. The logo was of a winter wonderland, where a snowman with a top hat and wooden pipe acted like a g. A more feminine snow woman lying on the ground with her lower two balls being the oo’s while its head was squished by a smaller snow girl (from the cute blue bow she wore) looking more like an “l” than a “g” but the L was a giant pipe normally adorned by the older snowmen. The “e” was a snow dog. The entire logo had a snowy animation with snowfall and a smoky chimney in the background, the cabin attached to said chimney looked a lot like mine.

The cabin had the same style of woodwork and window placement as mine, but it was snowed in, cold white clouds covering up half of the cabin. A chill made its way down my back. I saw a dark shadow move across the bright yellow window; it might have been part of the animation, but it creeped me out none the less. 

“Let me grab us some blankets” I said, looking away from the logo.

“Nah, I’m good. Hey, you want me to look up her eating habits while you see if this is just some freak accident or something… more.” she gave me a sly look.

“Sure, you’re a better cook than I am anyhow.”

“Thanks, but you don’t have to stroke my ego.” She started typing before adding: “You’re forgiven.” 

I stopped, my hand on one of the spare blankets I keep under my towels, the rough texture feeling like hot coals on my hands. 

“You’ve suffered enough and just knowing how much you care about Eclipse, enough to risk my wrath, and grow a backbone. It makes me happy rather than mad.” 

I took the blanket, moved back to the couch and gave her a short, but tight hug. “Thanks.” Releasing the hug, I quickly turned myself into an itchy burrito and grabbed the laptop. Typing in the word unicorn alone got me some interesting results.

Feast of the unicorn

Unicorn blood 

Pet Unicorn

How to kill a unicorn,

But what interested me most was Unicorn found dead in Bangor Maine, but before I clicked the “I’m feeling lucky” tab, Bridget said: “It’s eight now, let’s give, Eclipse and hour before I make dinner.” 

“Sure, but I don’t think it’ll take that long to figure—”

“I know, and when we finish I’ll just beat you at Mario Party again to pass the time.” 

“Fair enough… and you won’t beat me this time!” I shouted with a little rage. 

“We’ll see, now do what you do—” I tuned her out, giving a slight nod before clicking. 

The site I got was named Equestria Daily, with its newspaper theme and bright… ponies? I don’t know, but they were bright, and everywhere! Pegasi, Unicorns and what the site called Earth ponies of all shapes and sizes assaulted my eyes, and I reflexively turned to my right to see if Bridget was looking. I got a feeling like I was being naughty, looking at something that I wasn’t meant for, but little did I know it would be one of my deepest obsessions I’ll ever have, rivaling my train collector days back in high school, “Conductor Eric”, they’d call me, I even had a conductor’s hat, blue with green stripes. Bridget was the only one who cared about me back then, and she would stay true during the next week before everything crumbles to the ground. 

The center picture on the site depicted a mint green unicorn with a random tattoo of a… harp? Lyre? I couldn’t tell, on her butt. She had a two toned mane and tail just like Eclipse, but her colors were a pale green and an even paler one, kind of like toothpaste.

Toothpaste huh? Maybe… her, his? I don’t know’s name is Colgate or something.

	Lyra Heartstrings shot in cold blood!!!!

Guess I was wrong, and Lyra… maybe that means her tattoo is of a lyre.

It took me a few more seconds for the words Shot in Cold Blood!!! to hit home, and soon I could see three separate holes appearing on Lyra’s body. One behind the head, execution style and two on her left side, one just above where her stomach should be, and the other around her liver, all three seeping fresh blood. 

I felt my pulse skyrocket at the sight of blood! I’d had a fear of blood ever since my mother passed, but it wasn’t until Eclipse showed up that it really began to show. I went into a trance, blood soaked rags wrapped around my eyes, seeping! But this blood isn’t even real and I could see the same hospital, smell the antiseptic and hear the screams of agony as the thrift shop burned to the ground. I pressed my hands against my face, hoping it could block out some of the images, but it didn’t work and I would have lost my laptop if Bridget hadn’t acted. 

I shook, a strange yet pleasant pressure growing in the back of my head. I saw my mother burning, screaming as her eyes turned to charcoal, but even though it was made of fabric, the skin graft bandage was perfectly fine, continuing to cover the right eye like a lost soldier in the middle of a burning field of corn. My fear began to ebb, slowly, being replaced by confusion. 

“Eric, you okay?”

Why did this happen? It was only red pixels, not real blood! Why did I have an episode (If I can call it that) now?

“Hello?” Bridget grabbed my arm, the feeling of another’s touch bringing me back. “You in there numb nuts?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Oh good!, I didn’t expect you to—”

“Do you know how my mother died?” she looked startled, her eyes sinking back into her eyes as she processed this. “Please.” 

“How do you not know???”  her voice made it seem like I was playing a prank on her. 

“I think she burned down in a fire.”

“No… don’t tell me you forgot?” with a loud “slap” her hand connected with her forehead. “How could you forget that!?”

“Just tell me okay!” I shouted, but immediately covered my mouth, hoping I didn’t wake Eclipse up. Bridget looked at me, her ears trained for the slighted whine.

When it didn’t come she said in a hushed tone: “She died of skin cancer, don’t you remember?”

The sight of the paper white bandage, bright in the roaring flames, seemed to take over my vision for a brief second. I was taken aback, like something physically slapped me. Nothing made any sense. 

“It’s not that I don’t believe you,” I said. “Could you look up everything on Eclipse?”

“So you can look up your mother’s death?” I nodded. “Why? How could you forget—”

“I don’t know, OKAY! Just… do it.” I took my laptop back, quickly x’ed out the picture of Lyra Heartstrings Shot in Cold Blood and opened a new tab. Bridget didn’t respond, and for the first time, did what I wanted her to do, but I didn’t have time to be elated; I quickly typed “Casey Grace Winters” and unlike last time, hit the enter button. 

The result pool wasn’t all that impressive, just some of the websites my mother was affiliated with, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Kaiser Permanente, and the Facebook account I made for her a year after she died. 

When I turned to the next page though, things changed. The first like had “Casey” and “Winters” bolded followed by “Passing”. I wasn’t truly convinced to click until I saw the quotes underneath. “Casey Winters died…” 

The site itself had two flames on either side and a white hot center with a list of fourteen names, three in red while the other eleven were in green. 

FOURTEEN KILLED IN THRIFT SHOP FIRE  

Going down the list of those killed, I found my mother’s in green. There was a picture of her on a hospital stretcher, the bandage on her right eye. I hadn’t seen a picture of my mother in seven years.  The dark black clouds and the heavy rain gave the scene a grainy feel. The flash left a blinding white circle on my mother’s chest as two giant black umbrellas covered the stretcher. I knew that below the angelic white blanket, my mother’s body had been burned from her chest down, even though I couldn’t see it. Curly blond hair, fluttering in the storms wind, the back of my 6 year old head was pressed against my mother’s bosom like an infant suckling, on second glance, I wondered if that was what I’d been after. The same bandage taped on the right eye shined in the light of the camera flash. I looked at the website, it was a government site. It wasn’t faked.

I was unable to understand why I felt like my heart became stuck in a meat grinder at the sight of this. My mother died, why should it matter how she died? If that was the case then why was I crying?

I stare at that picture, riveted by the sight of my mother, completely unaware that Bridget is staring at me. Suddenly the screen disappeared and I feel something slap my shoulder. 

“I think you should take a break,” Bridget said. “What were you even looking at?” she reopened my laptop. “Hmm…” I saw her mouth drop, a giant O marking the void of her mouth. “How is… wait… no…. THE FUCK!” We both covered out mouths, shaking as we listened. 

	“Thump”

“Shit, you woke her up!” I said, getting up. Bane followed me down the hallway.

Opening the door, the hall light spread through the room in a door shaped pool of light exposing the tiny Eclipse that fell off of the bed. Beside that tiny unicorn was a bright orange bead pillow. The rest was cast in a dark, shadow. 

Eclipse moved, groaning as she got over the pain and shock of falling off a bed.

“Eclipse! I’m so sorry!” Bridget rushed in, picking up the fallen filly and cradling her like a baby. 

“Wha…” Eclipse put a small blue hoof to her throbbing head. “Eric… ow…” looking up, she saw that it wasn’t me who held her, and her eyes bulged, threatening to pop out of her head. “Who are you!” she pushed away… futilely might I add.

“Relax Eclipse” I said, putting a hand on her head. “This is—”

“I can introduce myself Eric!” Bridget stammered. “I’m Bridget Nightingale, Eclipse. You were my little cheerleading section back when you locked yourself in Bane’s cage.”

“Bark”

All three of us looked down, Eclipse brandishing a mile wide smile as she struggled to break free of Bridget’s grip.

“Okay, now let me go!” She wriggled and writhed, hoping to snake her way out of the crushing grasp. Bridget dropped her like she turned into a giant spider. 

“Geez,” she said, watching Eclipse bound towards Bane, wrapping one tiny hoof around his neck, giggles dripping from her mouth like drool. 

“It’s sooooo good to see you!” her voice changed. It sounded childish, well, more than before, but the change was almost palpable, the difference between smelling an apple and tasting one. I felt the tuggings of another smile, but I have another plan.

While she reunited with, Bane I sneaked to my dresser, research on my mind. Shuffling through the neatly sorted socks, one for each day of the week, I grabbed the five star notebook along with the ball point pen that sat askewed under a pair of clean underwear. I could finally take my note on her. Maybe even add a scientific paper to my reputation. That would help me get a trainer’s job.

While returning I noticed that Eclipse, Bane and Bridget were all gone. I headed towards the living room where Bridget was fumbling through her suitcase, throwing the sailor moon dress onto the couch, while Bane and Eclipse murmured to each other like a duo of gossiping teenagers. I had to fight myself for a few seconds. Either start studying the unnatural phenomena or research how to take care of her.

“Bridget, can you stay with Eclipse so I can continue researching?”

“Yeah, whatever. Where did I put that dress?” Bridget seemed crazed, determined, to find something in her suitcase that was on the couch. I figured Eclipse wouldn’t like playing dress up with an ugly rag like that so I quietly shoved it under the cushion. 

“Keep looking,” I nodded towards Eclipse, hoping she would be safe with Bridget, but  quickly moved back to my room. 

Closing the door I fell onto my queen bed, not caring about the blankets misplacing themselves. Opening the laptop, I blinked as the bright light caught me off guard. 

Sinking in, I opened google chrome, images of LYRA HEARTSTRINGS SHOT IN COLD BLOOD coming back and I had to fight to keep from having another breakdown. Looking through Google, I took my headphones out of my backpack and hooked them up to my computer. I found one of the newer Mario soundtracks on YouTube and listened while I worked. Typing in “Unicorn found in Maine” (I didn’t go for the “I’m feeling lucky” option) and found that most of the links had to do with a show called My Little Pony; I was pretty sure that watching something would be counter productive, and I should look at the links about news or something like that, but the feeling of procrastination I only got when I tried to work at home came over me and I clicked the first episode. Who knew I’d ever do research while slacking off? 

To this day I can’t figure out why I stayed on that site, but something hooked me from the moment I heard the infamous “Once upon a time” traveling through the clouds to that shady spot where our main character, Twilight Sparkle read me the legend of the “Mare in the Moon”. Something about Twilight reminded me of Eclipse, maybe those eyes, or something else, but  I couldn’t help seeing Eclipse whenever I saw her. One thing I did know was that the show was addicting. Seeing Twilight brush off those other ponies reminded me of myself when I was younger, no need for friends when they only brought wasted time and needless demands. I wanted to save my money by not buying pointless birthday presents… just like Twilight.

But I did have one friend back then, like Spike was Twilight’s friend, Bridget was always by my side, although she wasn’t a baby dragon, she acted like a full grown one, beating anyone who brought me harm to a pulp and personally tending to my wounds. The former didn’t happen until after middle school where the bullies did more than push me to the ground. 

It was about half way through the first episode that I realized, Bridget might have been a little overprotective of me, yet not towards anyone else. The question as to why this was festered inside me and I was beginning to think she used me, but that was impossible. Bridget had nothing to gain from needlessly protecting me.

I was listening to Twilight childishly whine about the party taking place in her treehouse when a loud thump rocked me, my headphones falling onto the bed, from the episode. 

“Uncle Eric... helllllp!” more banging as she desperately tried to get inside. 

I shuffled off the bed, fast at first, but slowed down as the thought of them trying to play a little prank and make me worry came to mind. 

“Help!!!”

I could just see Bridget shushing Eclipse as she kept yelling for help, only trying to get me scared so they can laugh. But I wasn’t falling for it.

Quietly, I looked for something that could scare the two, but nothing in my room would do the trick. I sighed and settled for a magazine, might as well have something, even though it’s a copy of the 2011 gameinformer with the impending release of Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword. I never played the game but watched my friend play it the day after our finals. It was the one time I didn’t celebrate the end of a semester with Bridget. 

Opening the door, I hoped FI would at least get a little jump from the two, but once opened just enough for a small cat to squeeze through, Eclipse shot inside, banging her head on the steel mattress undercarriage. With a shriek she came to my side, clutching my leg with a vice grip. She was hyperventilating and shaking like a jackhammer. 

“What happened?”  

“It was just a magic surge, nothing else.” Her eyes darted from left to right, up and down and side to side, but watching the door at the same time. 

“A magical surge? What are you talking about? And why is Bane barking?” I didn’t notice it at first as the unicorn took most of my attention, but Bane was yelping in the living room making my ears yell out in pain. It wasn’t like him, and he only barked when, Bridget… “Wait?” 

As if on cue, Bridget slammed the door and pushed me onto the bed, leaving Eclipse exposed and vulnerable.

“Uncle Eric!” Eclipse yelled, debating whether it was better to stay put and not risk getting hurt by the angry monster or help and risk it. She ran to the bean pillow and hid herself completely underneath. 

“She destroyed my dress!” Bridget was in my face, screaming at the top of her lungs like I was to blame. “I really cared about that dress.”

“Well maybe you should have noticed its bad condition then?” It was like someone was talking for me and I was watching from some distant land. “And how could a tiny unicorn rip that dress? Why would she want to rip that dress?”

“She told me it was ugly, that’s why.” she looked at me, tears in her eyes. “Why the hell don’t you care? That dress was important to me, not because it’s gorgeous, but because I wore it on my first beauty pageant. It’s a memory!” 

“Do you really think she meant to destroy something you hold dear? I know you told her that you cared about that dress.” I have no idea who was talking or where this emotion was coming from. 

Bridget fell on me, crushing that air in my lungs out. “I don’t know, Eric, I did tell her, but  she did destroy my dress!”

I was trapped beneath my childhood friend, a copy of the 2011 gameinformer between us, I could feel the warm push of her breasts against my chest, and this wasn’t one of my mental breakdown moments. Understandably, I got the urge to kiss her. Just give her a peck on the lips, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The magical power to defend Eclipse, a six year old unicorn, from my best friend when the unicorn was clearly in the wrong couldn’t give me the balls to steal a peck on the lips.

“Why don’t you care!”  Bridget rolled off of me, tears freely flowing and boobs plumping up to their normal c cup size. 

“I do care, Bridget, but  do you really think she did it?”

There was no response, Bridget just stared at the terrified Eclipse hiding under my desk, her body shaking,clutching the bean pillow. I could see it in her eyes, she wanted to lash at the defenseless unicorn, but … she couldn’t. 

“I need to ga— I-I need to go” She fumbled around the room, nearly tripping on the power cord to my laptop before opening the door and running out. 

I sat there, wishing I could taste her cherry lipstick, as I heard the door slam and Bane’s barking piddle out. I could still smell a faint puff from her perfume. Even when Eclipse trampled into me, pressing her face into my lap, I never looked away from the door. Silently hoping for another chance to steal my kiss, but all that would have to wait. 

“What did you do?” I said, trying not to sound intimidating but keeping a little edge in my voice. 

“It was just a magical surge, Uncle Eric. I never meant to—”

“What do you mean magical surge? How did you tear her dress?”

Eclipse looked at me, her giant puppy eyes staring into my soul, her lip quivered. “It was an accident.” 

"Then tell me what a magical surge is.” Even if the dress was in tatters a filly her size couldn’t destroy it. How would she even grip the thing?

When she didn’t respond, I picked her up and took her to the living room, but I wasn’t in too much of a hurry. 

“Where’s the dress?” Eclipse had glued herself to my shoulder, her tears dampening my shirt and she was acting like a child who spilt wine on the new carpet, making me the bad father to punish her. It felt wrong.

While she hicked and quietly sobbed on my shoulder, I looked around for the tattered remains of Bridget’s prized dress. I was a child once, and if I broke something my parents found special I would hide it under something, but be it under the couch, under Bane’s mattress. even under the table, I couldn’t find the evidence. 

I was beginning to think, Bridget framed Eclipse and took the dress with her when Eclipse spoke up in a harsh teary tone, saying: “I-I vaporized it, Eric.” A loud gasp later and she added “Please don’t hate me!”

“Stop talking nonsense. You can’t do that.” I turned to tell her to stop lying when she gave me a face that looked a mix between constipated and hurt. 

“Yes, I can” She struggled to break free from me (only succeeding when I let go) and fell to the ground with a soft ‘thump’. She eyed me, a mark of disapproval similar to Twilight’s when Spike couldn’t spell ‘inevitable’ on her face.  “I was right here when my horn surged with magical energy and destroyed Bridget’s ugly dress” 

I knelt down on one knee and put a hand over her head. “That’s not possible Eclipse. I don’t know what world you came from, but here on Earth there’s no such thing as magic.” Her pout was adorable, and she looked like she was about to throw a temper tantrum, but stopped and looked shamefully at the ground. I moved my hand to the back of her ear. “Don’t feel down, just because Bridget framed you doesn’t mean you have to mope.”

“But  I did vaporize that dress!”

“No,stop talking like that and go sit on the—” 

“Ring” 

“Just go sit on the couch, Eclipse, we’ll talk after I get off the phone.”

“FINE!” she stamped to the couch. 

I walked to the kitchen, let Bane out, told him to keep an eye on her, and answered the phone before the third ring. 

“Hello?”

“Hi, this is Drake Manwell. Can I speak to Eric?” The voice seemed on edge, cold like it expected rejection.

“Speaking” I took a peek into the living room to see Eclipse punching the couch pillow and smiled. 

“Okay, last night you hit my car so the two of us could get past a landslide.” 

“What?” 

“I know this sounds ridiculous, but  it happened and my Mom wasn’t happy that I damaged her car. So if I could stop by to get the four hundred dollars needed to fix it”

“Listen, I don’t have time to talk to tax collectors, could you please—” 

“No! My mother said the person who damaged my car should pay. If you think I’m lying then look online. The damn thing probably hit the news a couple of hours ago. A landslide on Manchester road about 9:30PM eastern standard time. Two people died when their Toyota Corolla went over the cliff. They were right behind you when you pushed my car forward. They died because of you!”

“Okay, I’ll look into this landslide business Mr. Manwell, but do not accuse me of murder. If you want to talk like civilized humans than come to my house tomorrow around six thirty. We can settle this and go on with our lives.” I don’t know why I was asking this man to come over when he threatened me with murder, maybe it had to do with me standing up to Bridget after five years of letting her push me around. 

“I would like that very much Mr?”

“Winters, Eric Winters. I’ll see you tomorrow at six thirty”

> My Little Pony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Lying on the couch with a furry ball of emotion, I thought it would be like taking a visit to the local insane asylum, but  it turned out to be easily ignorable. 

“Watch me, Uncle Eric!”

When she isn’t talking. 

Eclipse was in the middle of a temper tantrum, but  not over the fact that she was lost in an unfamiliar environment (Be it, I don’t know what her original environment is) but because I didn’t believe she vaporized the sailor moon dress. I understand why children throw these tan- trums. I studied both animal psychology as well as child psychology, and Eclipse has fascinated me ever since I got over my pointless fear, but  right now I just wanted to stuff her mouth with a dirty sock.

I had looked online at 9news.com and just like, Drake said, there had been a landslide on Manchester road, two died, a husband and a wife returning from their trip to Vancover after bare- ly keeping their marriage from falling apart, but  there was no footage of my car causing the accident. 

“Watch me! I’m levitating four socks at once!”

“Eclipse, I’m not going to—” I blinked, “Believe?” Right there, like four pale blue spirits, were the two pairs of black and blue socks I found in Bridget’s bag… floating.

“See!” She held her head up in pride with a sly smile. “I told you!” 

I got up, a smile growing, and knelt down on the carpet. I hesitated, holding out a shaking hand to one of the glowing socks, a faint warmth like a small campfire touched my hand. My smile died as tendrils of fear creeped through my mind. I’d heard of levitation and magic just like anyone else, but  knowing is entirely different from experiencing. 

“It’s not going to hurt you Uncle Eric.” The sound of Eclipse’s squeak of a voice shocking me back. 

“I-I know!” I snapped, taking a reflexive, shaky, deep breath as cold shivers bounced around my body like bouncy balls in a glass jar. My hand jolted, stealing the sock from the air.  The glow disappeared the instant my hand touched the soft fabric yet some warmth still lingered.  I bit my tongue to keep from screaming; it’s too real, the socks, the unicorn, the magic, all real, but  now was no time to be afraid. That can come later. 

“Hold your hoof out”  She gave me a skeptical look, but  held her left forehoof out. I took it and, gently, rolled the soft cotton against her fur, encasing the entire leg (with some room to spare) in a warm, fuzzy shell. I did the same to her other hooves, hesitating for a few seconds beforehand, and when I was done she looked at her new socks, smiled and gave a delighted squeal. 
“Thank you Uncle Eric.” she pressed them against her face like someone might a bouquet of roses, chittering happily as the softness tickled her fur. “Now do you believe I vaporized that dress.” 

Yes, I thought but  didn’t say. The same fear I had mere hours ago came back, tingling in my spine and weighing down my mind.  I couldn’t give a direct answer, my breath caught, and for a brief moment I was paralysed, yet I somehow nodded. 

“Yay!” She jumped into my lap, squealing with joy while viciously rubbing her head against my stomach.

I took the time to return the affection with a little ear scratch, my fear slowly dissolving with each stroke. She wiggled around, giggling as the tried every possible position. I began to laugh at her, partly from her actions, partly from the socks tickling my legs, but  the more she moved the more my fear went away. When she stopped moving, a drip of trepidation fell down my throat. She lay on her back, arms stretched and belly exposed. 

So much like a puppy. Maybe she’ll like a little belly scratch? Or would that be invading her privacy?

“Belly rubs?” She looked at me with an innocent smile and pleading eyes. 	

Really! She’s just going to let me? My hand hesitated, “You sure?”

“Yes! My mom does it whenever I’m sad, and she seems to enjoy it as much as I do so maybe it will make you feel happier?” One of her small hooves started to rub my stomach, “Please?”

“Okay! Okay.” I had to grab her hoof to keep from laughing. “I’m ticklish there.”

“Oh?” She eyed me with a coy grin. “Is that so?” Giggling, she extended her second hoof and attacked my vulnerable stomach with vicious cycles.

“Yes,” I shouted, grabbing her hoof with my second arm so the electric tingles would stop.  “And I’d appreciate it if you respected my wish of not being touched there.” Though I really didn’t want to be tickled in my gut, it was nice to see Eclipse lower some of her defences and act like the child I see her as.

“S-Sorry.” She retracted her hooves, using them to cover her face in shame. “P-Please forgive me.” 

“It’s fine, no need to cry over it.” I looked at her quivering eyes, hating myself for overreacting. I didn’t mind when she used her face so why worry about her hooves? The longer I stared at her the more her eyes watered, and when I heard the first little ‘hic’ of tears, I moved.

“What’r you do—’ ah!” she shrieked, peels of laughter forcing their way out of her as my free hand attacked her vulnerable belly. She waved her hooves around, begging for mercy before rolling off my lap and landing breathlessly on her ravaged belly.
“Now that that’s out of the way.” she glared at me with angry eyes. “Would you be so kind as to tell me two things.” I waited until she got herself under control, occasionally scratching her ears.

“Okay”

“One, why do you keep calling me ‘Uncle Eric’ and two,” I had to restrain myself from demanding my next words. “What you were doing to make those socks… float?” It felt like the word float dripped out of my mouth. 

“Oh those are easy, Uncle Eric.” she chirped, rubbing her cloaked hooves against her face. “I call every ‘adult’ pony I consider family either ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunt’ and everypony my age either ‘sister’ or ‘brother’ although not in normal conversation like I do with ‘Uncle’ and ‘Aunt’.”

This caught me off guard. I thought it was just a childish prank, like how I was called Stuart Little back in high school, a childish nickname, not that she thought of me as family. “Y-You consider me family?”

“Of course!” She silently climbed back into my lap, nestling herself between my legs before looking up at me. “You admitted you were afraid of me, gave me a bath, held me when I cried, let me stay at your home AND protected me from that mean, Bridget. I think you’ve earned the name, Uncle Eric.” she finished this by lightly nuzzling my chest. I couldn’t help scratching her ear, a single tear falling down my left cheek, followed by another and another until I started to cry. It had been so long since someone told me this, Bridget did it all the time, but  after hearing it for years that grew stale. I could see the images of my dead mother (Ones I’m still debating on whether are real or not)  fresh wounds that I thought I’d healed over a decade ago opening up. 

Eclipse again picked up on my emotional state, jumping up and leaning her front two socked hooves against my chest as to be closer to my face before saying: “Don’t cry, Uncle Eric.” she reached to try and wipe my tears, but  was too short to get there. 
“I’m sorry, Eclipse,” I said, making her jump with another tickle to her stomach. “It’s just… I haven’t seen my family in years. My dad went missing after a train wreck and my mother.” I waited, unsure on how to phrase not knowing how one of my parents died. “Well, I don’t really know what happened to her. Bridget’s the closest thing I have to family right now. I kinda followed her here after college.” Looking at her smiling face as she hung onto every one of my words as though they were spoken by god himself, it felt almost right to tell her my life story. “She’s the reason I have this home, and my job.” I held my breath. I’d thought I had more things to say, and now I felt like a college student that ran out of material four minutes into his seven minute speech. 

“Is, Bridget realllllly important to you Uncle Eric?” she said it with either poorly restrained or completely unrestrained spite.

“Yes, like how you consider me a part of your family, I consider her a part of mine.” my voice wavered. “And knowing that you consider me a part of your family makes me so happy that I cried tears of joy.” I pulled her into a tight hug, so tight that I think she said “I can’t breath”, but  I paid no mind. “Thank you.”

When I loosened my grip, she looked me in the eyes, a silent tear of her own falling to the ground, and wrapped her hooves around my neck, burying her snout in my chest. “I should be the one saying thank you.” her voice muffled vibrated against my chest giving me a tingly feeling.

“Relax, we’ll have plenty of time for thank yous later.” I pulled her out of my chest and sat her on the ground. “Tell me about how you levitated those socks a moment ago.”

Eclipse took a deep breath while I wiped the last tear from my eye. “Well” she started, an innocent squeak in her voice. “My mom says that every living being has the capability of using magic, some are just better than others. I have” she pointed toward at her horn, “what my mom calls a… a condoltie? No, ah… conduetite? No, CONDUIT! That’s it. Mom says my horn is a conduit for what she calls nen.” I reached for my blue Five Star notebook while trying to keep eye contact, but ended up flopping to the ground. Eclipse giggled before offering a hoof to help me up. I denied, sat crosslegged and told her to continue. “Mom did research on the different magic of the three pony races. Earth ponies like my Aunt Applejack, help—”

“for some strange reason, she’ll only eat Applejacks. Something about them reminding her of a friend of her mother” Bridget’s voice rung in my mind. 

“Wait, Applejack.” I thought back to the pony that fattened Twilight Sparkle up during the Summer Sun celebration food testing. “What color is her fur?”

“What? Why do you want to know that?”

“Just tell me okay, it’s really important.” I felt my blood pressure rise as little electrical bolts in my brain connected the metaphoric dots.

“Orange, can I get back to answering your question?”

	It couldn’t be

“Okay, now nen allows pegasi like my Aunt Rainbow to—”

“Wait—”

“Will you STOP interrupting me! Celestia, you’re worse than Aunt Pinkie.” 

I took a deep breath, unable to keep calm about how freaky this suddenly became. I just started to watch My Little Pony today, and that was because of Eclipse, but, I never would have thought she would be from the cartoon! 

Calm… breath in… breath out… calm

“Continue.”

“Thank you, geez next thing you’ll ask is how long Aunt Rarity’s horn is.”

Calm… breath in… breath out

“Okay,” she began again, tapping her hoof like someone reciting a list by memory, using her hoof like fingers to count off each fact. “So nen is something deep within you and me that helps protect us from internal damage.” tap. “Well, I don’t know if that’s how it works in your world, but that’s how it works in mine.” She paused to rub her socked hooves against her face, probably to help calm her nerves from the looks of it. “My mom wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t get this right, even if she isn’t here. Now nen allows pegasi to fly” tap ”and earth ponies to be in tune with the earth, allowing them to tend to crops” tap “but  these are passive nen abilities.” tap “Unicorns like myself, on the other hoof, have active control of their nen, meaning we need to practice in order to control it.” she looked around the dark room, spotted my notebook and lit her horn, making me back off from fright. “Right now I can’t lift more than two and a half pounds with my nen, but  I have been able to divide it to up to four objects, something unicorns twice my age struggle with, thus floating the four light socks.” she dropped the book, flinching when it fluttered open. “You don’t need to be scared, Uncle Eric, I would never hurt you. I can’t hurt you.” she placed her hooves down, looking like a little girl performing a curtsy after finishing a speech.  

“No, I’m not afraid, it’s just… I’m not used to magic—”

“Nen”

“Nen, right. Give me time, nen is still new to me. Now did your mother make you memorize this knowledge?”

She perked up and grew a giant smile. “Yup, but  I still haven’t memorized all there is to know about nen. There’s still the stuff about aura nodes and making non nen users into nen users through the initiation ritual—” she shivered involuntarily.
“Is something wrong?”

“No, just a bad memory. I’ve never seen anypony initiate another, but  I heard it when my mom did it to my older sister.” Another shiver. “There was a lot of screaming.” 

“Oh, how old were you?” I couldn’t help but prod, all this new information tickled my insides

“Three, but I’d really rather not talk about it. I miss my sister, let’s leave it at that.” 

“Sure.” I pulled her into a hug. “But if you need someone to talk to—”

“Thanks for the offer, but  dealings with my sister are a little personal” she sniffed again before giving me a warm smile.

“Sure.” I leaned back, grabbing the notebook and pen, quickly jotting a few key words to look up later. 

“If you don’t mind me asking,” I said putting the back of the pen between my lips. “Is your mother named, Twilight Sparkle?”

She gasped, it was so forceful that it sounded like a high powered vacuum, then coughed.  “How… how do you know my mother’s first name!” I couldn’t tell if it was fear or awe coating her voice. “Only me, Dad, Mom’s five closest friends and the Princesses themselves are allowed to say that name. The rest have to call her ‘Princess’”

I jotted Twilight Sparkle alongside the other words. “Well to be honest, I was just taking a shot in the dark, but Twilight seemed like the only pony that’d make a child memorize such facts.“

“Lucky guess?” she snarked, her flickering eyes glaring. “How can you guess my mother’s name and how she’d act?”

“It’ll be a lot easier if I show you”  Looking at the clock, I added: “How about over dinner?”	

“Okay.” Shuffling on the carpet, one of her hooves rubbed her stomach and an audible growl could be heard. “Just hurry.”  

I quietly got up and told Eclipse to wait in the kitchen. She obliged, making small shuffling sounds as her socks rubbed against the carpet, going silent as they slide across the linoleum. I moved to my room, noting a sudden chill from the window I didn’t close all the way back when I gave her a bath. It scares me how much happened on my day off, and how much I’ve changed.

Grabbing the laptop I reminisced on how I protected Eclipse from Bridget, something I’ve never done before and thought I’d never do. How Bridget yelled at me and kicked me when she found out I didn’t use the laptop she gave me, but  almost instantly forgave me when she learned why I needed it.

Closing the door behind me, I thought about how scared I was of the tiny blue foal that’s probably sitting patiently in the dark kitchen for me to return. A helpless foal that would have died if I didn’t save her from the rain. She went from enemy to family in less than three hours, could it be because of how cute she is? Bridget couldn’t bring herself to harming the innocent foal when she supposedly destroyed her favorite outfit, and I could see it in her eyes how much she wanted to pound her face in.

I pushed these thoughts to the back of my mind as there was one more major question that would make or break our relationship. I don’t mean uncle to niece, I feel nothing could break that bond, but  reality and fantasy. 

As I turned the lights on to the kitchen, seeing Eclipse sitting in the seat closest to the table while not actually being able to sit at the table, I thought of what I’d do if Eclipse turned out to be from a television show created from one or a few people’s minds. A piece of writing turned real. Was she a figment of my imagination? I don’t know, but  I am most curious and am willing to sacrifice my sanity for the chance to get the paper of a lifetime. 

“What do you want to eat?” I said, picking her up and placing her onto the table. “It’ll have to be quick to make since it’s almost bedtime.” 

She looked at me, possibly wondering the same questions I am, and said: “A daisy sandwich would be nice. Those always help me sleep.”

“Well, I don’t have any daisies, but  spaghetti is grainy and easy to make, how bout that?”

“Okay, Spike makes great spaghetti at home!” this time she chirped, possibly from a happy memory, or trying to keep her spirits up with a nice memory. Is she home sick? Will I have to deal with a home sick unicorn tomorrow?

I pushed those thoughts away too, sending them boomeranging out the window, knowing fully that they will return before I go to bed. “Okay, I’ll make that.”

Grabbing a medium sized pot, I filled it with water and placed it onto the back burner of the kitchen stove, turning the handle to the side in order to keep pesky children from tipping boiling water on themselves. I then grabbed a packet of Barilla thin pasta and placed it to the side. A half emptied bottle of traditional ragu sauce waited in the fridge. 

“So your mother is Twilight Sparkle and her friends are Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, am I correct?”

“Yes, and I hope that whatever you brought will tell me how you know that.” 

“It will, but  I don’t know if you’re ready for that answer.” I turned towards the table before adding: “Or if I’m ready.”

“Wha?, why would you not be ready? You already know the answer!” A fire raged in her eyes, it wasn’t the glow of the overhead fluorescent, there seemed to be an actual fire in her eyes! “Just show me already!”

“Okay, geeze.” I opened my laptop, the screen locked on Twilight with a pillow covering her face. The first thing out of Eclipse’s mouth was a quiet “Mom?” like she was unsure. When I pressed play and Twilight’s whiny voice came from the speakers, however, she jumped out of her skin and screamed before flopping onto her back and panting heavily. 

“What IS that!” She quickly got up and stared at me, begging me for answers.

“It’s a television show called My Little Pony.”

“WHAT’S THAT!?” 

“No need to yell.” I tried to calmly scratch her ear, but  was blocked by one of her hooves. 

“TELL ME!” her breathing quickened. “WHY IS MY MOMMY IN THAT THING!”

“Stop yelling, Eclipse, I’m right here!”

You’re the mare in the moon, Nightmare Moon. We both froze and turned to the computer as the picture turned from Twilight to a giant black mare with wings and a horn. Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment on the night will last forever! Evil laughter boomed as the video cut to Twilight’s worried face as she realized her Princess and mentor was gone forever. 

“N-N-N” I turned back to Eclipse had curled up in a tight ball, hoof in her mouth, and quivering as tears dropped from her eyes. “N-Nightmare M-Moon… N-Ny” I placed a hand on her vibrating body and she gasped so hard she started coughing. “Wh-What is this!!!” she screamed, but  her voice cracked and she fell onto her back, hooves covering her watery eyes. 

“I told you, it’s a television show, and I think you’re entire life is just a fantasy in my world.”

Her hooves moved, revealing a pair of red eyes still leaking tears. “D-Don’t exist? Fantasy?” she got up onto her shaking legs and stared at me, hatefully. “Is this some kind of prank?” Gone was the relatively innocent voice I was used to, taking its place a dark and mistrusting one. “Or did your kind send a probe to monitor my family?” She looked at the screen, glared at it really. “That didn’t look like my mother, but it sounded like her. What is this contraption? Why are you spying on us?”

“Slow down, Eclipse,” I was taken aback by the sudden change. “We aren’t spying on your family.” The look she gave me was nothing like I’d ever seen from her. It wasn’t angry, but  furious. “This is just something I found browsing the internet.”

“What is an internet? Is that the probe you sent into Equestria?” She turned from the laptop and stared directly at me. “Are you trying to hurt my homeland? Do you huumaans wish to take over and hurt my family?” her voice raised from an accusing shout to a threatening yell, and her horn began to emit blue sparks. “Maybe you’re just trying to win me over so you can backstab me later.” 

Worry swiftly turned to bone chilling fear as her horn started to glow a bright blue. She said she couldn’t hurt me, but  just because the gun is unloaded doesn’t mean it won’t scare you. The laptop was soon enveloped in its light just like the socks were and floated all the same. “E-Eclipse, you—”

“That’s it isn’t it. You don’t care about me. You just want to test me, probe my body to find out what makes me tick.” 

“Eclipse, you have it all wrong. I would never hurt you!” Fear turned to anger. “This is just a show, not a probe. There is no plot to take over your world because us humans think your world doesn’t exist.”

Eclipse’s eye began twitching, and her breathing turned to harsh rasps. “You lie to me! There’s no way you could get my mother’s voice like that if you didn’t think Equestria existed. It’s too perfect!”

“Eclipse… calm down, think about what you are saying! Why would I keep you in a safe house if I wanted to perform dangerous tests on you?” I sat down, placing a shaky hand onto her back, actually flinching when she backed off. “Why would I look up on how to take care of you if I just wanted to use you?” She was shaking, frightened by the contraption floating in her flickering nen. “But  most importantly, why would I cry when you said I was a part of your family? Eclipse, I don’t want to hurt you, I never did. I want to protect you and help you get back together with your mother.” 

“You… you…” she stuttered, curling up into a ball.

“I know it’s scary, Eclipse. I’m scared too, terrified in fact, but  you don’t have to be alone when you face it.” 

“Ya-you’re just saying the same things my mommy says whenever I get scared. You shouldn’t know about Nightmare Moon, not my mommy’s name or that she’s my mommy! I-I” she stopped breathing and shook like a dam ready to break, then, without any warning, went from scarily mature woman to scared little girl with one phrase. “I want my mommy!” Tears burst from her eyes, the laptop dropped with a clack on the table, and her breathing turned into hiccups as her dam broke from too much stress. “I want my mommy! I ‘hic’ want my mommy!” 

I stared at her, everything but  pity melting from my mind as her wails rose throughout the room. She began to suck her hoof again, saliva soaking her socks. I felt like I was looking down on her, like you might a homeless man begging on the street, and it felt wrong. She looked so vulnerable and small curled up on the table sucking her hoof, even more so than when I gave her a bath.
Then it hit me.I know how scared and alone she feels wanting something that won’t come. I could see myself crying alone in my room after my mother’s funeral, sucking my thumb like her and refusing to let anyone inside. Everyone just left me alone then, thinking it was “just a phase” and that I’d reach out before breakfast tomorrow, but I was eleven and didn’t know how to handle such extreme emotions. I just wanted someone to break down the door and hug me, and that’s what Eclipse feels right now, I’m sure of it.
“It’s okay, Eclipse” I picked her up with both of my arms and pressed her against my chest. “Everything will be okay. Your mommy is probably on her way right now.” I stroked her mane and scratched her ear, but  she didn’t melt into my embrace like last time. “Your Uncle Eric will protect you until then.” Her hoof never left her mouth and her gorgeous purple eyes refused to meet mine. It was like I was hugging an emotionless rock. She gave no response to my comfort, almost pulling away from it as if I was at fault. 
I tightened my grip, crushing her resistance so she’d lean into me. Moments later, I felt her begin to sob; she screamed into my chest and it was then that I realized I didn’t know how she felt. Because of me, her grasp on reality was shattered, I couldn’t begin to fathom how that might feel. 

Looking down, I watched her writhe in my grip, screaming while her mind went into overdrive, every memory she held close suddenly becoming scripted and fake. I wanted to apologize, but  it didn’t feel right. 

None of this was really my fault, I didn’t create the show, and she did ask me to tell her how I knew who her mother was. No, but  I’d do my best to make it better, maybe i’ll succeed, maybe I won’t. Deep down I knew I would only make things worse, but  what I didn’t realize was that from this moment on, her very life was in my hands, and I was about to make a big mistake. 
> That Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I was running up two flights of creaky wooden stairs, my blue Pokemon tee shirt and matching shorts flapping, racing my mother to the top. A wave of deja vu came over me when I touched the splintery handrail, its sun bathed warmth too familiar to my young touch. I had been to the Louisa Medstar Thrift shop hundreds of times before, and had grabbed the very same handrail just and many, but  this time felt different. It felt wrong.

But  that feeling left as fast as the croissant Mom bought me at the french bakery about a mile from the thrift shop, and I shouted “I win, I win” before she even climbed the first flight. 

The entire stairway was lined with random pencil landscapes going from the Milwaukee skyline to a lighthouse in Portland Maine, and to my left a short hallway with three doors. In this hallway were two young ladies, one wearing a tight white dress that looked ready to split at the seams, and a pair of half moon glasses perched on her nose. A beaded cord wrapping around her wrinkled neck like rosary beads. Pinned to her chest was an oblong name tag, the words read Delores Benfield. The other lady was younger, with a more fitting ‘Life is Good’ tee shirt and a pair of slacks. She had fine blond hair that looked right out of the steamer. There was a glazed look in her eyes as she looked at a pair of run down sneakers.  The two stood by a stainless steel crate filled with old shoes, one filling while the other browsing.

“Hi, Mrs. Benfield,” Mom said, finally reaching the top of the stairs, “Jessica,” she added with a nod.

Mom also wore a ‘Life is Good’ tee shirt, but  her’s was purple. She had a pair of loose khakis that went down to her knee. If it wasn’t for the belt they would be down to her ankles, her pink frilly underwear exposed. I know because I watched her get dressed for the first three years of my life.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Mrs. Winter.” Mrs. Benfield said.

“Well, Eric heard you got a new shipment of video games.” she looked at me with an accusing glare. “And he wouldn’t leave me alone until I brought him.”

“Oh, those are downstairs.” Jessica added, setting a pair of Adidas back into the pile.

“Oh I know,” Mom said with a hint of spite. “Eric just needs to wait for me to shop before he gets his chance.” I grumbled, crossing my arms in silent protest. “Isn’t that right? Eric”

“I’ll be in this room okay Mom?” I said pointing to the room marked ACCESSORIES. 

“Don’t avoid the question!” She gave me a stern, annoyed, look before taking a deep breath, ignoring the strange looks everyone gave. “Sure, Honey.” Mom got down onto one knee and pulled me into a hug.

“Not in front of Jessica, Mooom.” I looked at Jessica’s face, bright green eyes looking back as she held back a chuckle.

“Just don’t break anything.” I could feel the spite in her smile. “I don’t want to have to buy another broken dog statue.”

“That only happened once!” 

“Yeah, and I don’t want it to happen again.” she let go, standing up to twice my height before pushing me along. 

“Okay, Okay, just don’t take too long this time.” 


I walked into the ACCESSORIES department, which had a lot more than just accessories. There were tops, bottoms, belts of all colors, pillows, dolls, and baby toys. Not going to lie, some of the dolls scare me so I keep away from that end of the room. This is actually the biggest room in the thrift store, I found that out after getting bored waiting for Mom to finish looking at some of the tops. Twice I got caught by, Mrs. Benfield trying to get into the off limits areas.

“Hello there, Eric?”

I turned towards the kind voice, looking away from the only orange pillow on the rack. It looked like a bean pillow. Something stirred inside of me at its sight.

“Yes, Miss. Juniper.” Miss Juniper, while not as important as Mrs Benfield, is the only other worker that stays at the store from open to close, but  I like her more than Mrs Benfield because she sidelines some of the stuff from new shipments she thinks I’d like. I wondered what she had this time? 

“Now that’s not how I taught you to greet me, Eric, is it?”

I clacked my feet together and saluted with my right hand. “M’lady” 

“At ease soldier.” I released my hand and clasped both, spreading my legs and looking down. Parade rest. “I got some good stuff this time Eric, someone donated a copy of,” she paused for dramatic effect, grinning at my look of anticipation I know. “Ocarina of time!” 

I gasped and ran up to her, unable to wrap both my arms around her plump waist. I had been looking for that game for an entire month! “Thank you!” 

“Don’t thank me, thank the person who donated it. I think you know him. Remember John Haybert?”

“Him? Wow, I thought he loved that game?”

“He came with his mom this morning. Apparently he did something so naughty, she made him give it up.”

“I’ll have to thank him later.” I said taking the beautiful thing from her warm, meaty hands. I turned the gray cartridge around and found the JH etched he etched in. It was definitely his.  “Do you mind telling me about the orange pillow there?” I pointed to the pillow in question. 

“Why? Just grab it.” I wanted to, but  something told me, a sort of feeling, that I should stay far away from it.”John got a green one when he came. I remember how happy he was when…” I ignored her and moved closer, hand held out like it would snap at me, snake style. “Just take it Eric, it’s not going to bite you.” I jumped and snatched it from its perch below a blue, purple and yellow one of the same quality. 

My mother screamed.

“Fire!” somewhat garbled screams could be heard from the floor below. 

“Hurry, put it out!”

Everything faded as I clutched the pillow close to my chest instinctively. The world spun and heated up. Orange flames flickered up the stairway, burning the Milwaukee skyline as they climbed to the second floor. 

“Were trapped!” Miss Juniper shouted. 

I dropped Ocarina of Time , the clack it made hitting the ground sounded like a gunshot. I collapsed, my legs going numb as the temperature skyrocketed and the screams seemed to melt away downstairs.

I stared into a fiery abyss, the flames burning through the last of the pencil drawings, not noticing a black figure racing towards me.

“Hold on tight, Eric.” I barely registered my mother’s touch. She holstered me over her shoulders just as the flames crept into the ACCESSORIES room. “Don’t let go, whatever happens.” I heard Miss Juniper scream followed by a loud meaty thump from outside. 

People were jumping out of the windows into a roaring thunderstorm. 

Just before we jumped, I saw Jessica’s face run into the room, she screamed, her entire body engulfed in flames. Soon she fell to the burning ground. I saw her flesh boil, literally melting off the bone. Then the cold assault of rain.

Mom was below me and I saw a patch of cloth on her right eye, a bandage. We fell into a mud patch, barely missing Miss. Juniper and everything went black. 



I shot up. My blanket was soaked in cold sweat. I swished my pajama pants together, they were dry. I looked at the time. 11:00 the red light blinked. Groaning I took my hand away from my mouth and sighed. 

“Only asleep for a half an hour.” 

I kicked the blanket off and shuffled quietly to the kitchen. Eclipse ate her spaghetti in relative peace, but  kept giving me a look that seemed a mixture of desperation, frustration and a vain attempt at blaming me for her world being displayed in a childrens cartoon. 

Somehow, she ended up getting her head stuck in one of the striped socks. She said it happened so she didn’t have to look at me, but  I think she was hiding from the truth. Anyway, the action was cute at first, watching her struggle to stay upright, but  that changed when she fell off the chair. I tried to help her, but  she ran away, hitting the wall three times before giving up and falling to the ground. She hissed when I took the sock off and ran under the couch, her eyes glowing in the moonlight.  She fell asleep lying on the orange pillow about an hour after I fixed her sock. I was in the middle of researching My Little Pony when I noticed.

I have to admit, the villain, Nightmare Moon did turn out to be rather interesting. She gave off a seriously stupid vibe. Serious in the sense that she was determined to get her goal of bringing everlasting night to Equestria, and stupid because she didn’t think about the fact that nothing grows without sunlight. But  what really intrigued me was Princess Luna. Why wasn’t she talked about either before or after the Nightmare Moon incident? Is she plotting to take over the now diarchy? These are questions I hope will be answered later in season one.

I silently crept past Bane’s cage, listening to the gentle breathing coming from under the couch, and snatched the laptop from the table. Slowly I slithered back to my bedroom. After the nightmare, I figured I wouldn’t get much sleep so I planned on researching more about both my mother’s death and My Little Pony until either I passed out or had to go to work.

The warmth from my blanket felt great and I quickly got comfortable underneath. While I waited for my laptop to finish starting up, the names, Mrs. Benfield, Jessica, Miss Juniper and John Haybert bounced around in my head like tiny pinballs. I knew who they were, and what they looked like, but  for some reason I couldn’t remember why. 

I went back to the site with the pictures of my mother being rolled away on a stretcher and looked at the names one more time.

“Jonathan, H, Haybert, Jessica Alberni, Delores Benfield… and Julia Juniper. They’re all here!” I slowly scrolled down the list of green and red names, almost every name rung a bell, some were louder than others.  Every name I heard in my dream but Delores was in green while she and two other names shared the red. Looking Delores up I found out that she died a widow, without a single child to her family name. Same with the other two, both died in the fire without a child to call their own. Samuel Winslow’s wife had three miscarriages before giving up on her dream. They adopted Li Chan from the Gatewood Childrens home a year before the fire. 
The last name in the red group, Jordan Kingsley, was not from the Louisa area. Her roots were in Montgomery county Maryland, and the statement from her husband was that the two of them were staying at the Marriott over in Richmond for a bird watching convention. Jordan had just wanted to look at the shirts on sale, said she needed a new one (or twelve as Jordan’s husband later explained) to replace the one she gifted to her friend.

I put a sweaty palm over my eyes. They begged for sleep, but  everytime I closed them I saw my mother’s face as she landed in the mud. If all three red names never had any children of their own, then does that mean the other eleven did? Quickly I looked the entire page from top to bottom, ignoring the pictures that showed on the sides, in hope of finding some kind of key, but  to my disappointment there was none. No name stuck out to me, and most of the names I didn’t know. I shrugged my worry away and looked up to of the other patrons in the thrift shop that fateful day. Adam Dansly and Joe Marygold were two married men both with two children to call their own, oddly enough all four were boys.

Boredom and just wanting to think about something else forced my thoughts to Eclipse, and as I changed position to put one of the extra pillows under the computer, I began wondering why she sounded so… mature. Looking back on my notes, I couldn’t find anything that would help me understand this. She has such good manners, talks without a lisp and knows some pretty big words for her age. I was stumped until I stumbled onto two words that explained everything. Twilight Sparkle. 

In a child’s eye, mother and father might as well be god. They feed, shelter and give unconditional love. It took me until the age of eighteen to see my own mother as anything else but a god, especially after she died. This means that a child would imitate their mother, needing to please her at any cost. And with Twilight’s love of books it wouldn’t be surprising to find that Eclipse took up reading to spend a little extra time with her. 

“Okay, that makes sense, but  what about the manners?” I said aloud to no one in particular

Six year olds tend to know some manners, mainly the p’s and q’s, but  Eclipse never tried to attack me, a possibly dangerous alien that might be holding her hostage, even going so far as to let me give her a bath when she was clearly uncomfortable. I pondered this for some time, watching the blinking clock go from 11:25 to 11:45, until something clicked. 

“She was afraid of me!” I slapped my head in frustration — regretting it immediately as a dull pain sent the world spinning for a few moments— she had no idea if I was friend or foe.  After the bath she looked more, comfortable, all worry lifted when I said she could stay until her mother picked her up. It seemed all her problems were solved. 

“Then Bridget came over and I kept her from killing the poor thing.” I said, mulling over my notes while twirling the ballpoint pen around in my mouth. “Eclipse trusted me enough, after that, to call me her uncle and recite what she knew about nen.” I clicked to the tab with episode five of My Little Pony and looked at the purple unicorn talking to the hyper active (and a little terrifying) Aunt Pinkie PIe. “After that, I showed her this show and she flipped. Accusing me of spying on her family, but that also says the world of Equestria is really where she’s from.”

After writing a few more notes in my notebook, I settled down to watch more of the show that would change my life 


Around 1 o'clock I heard a soft knock at the door. 

Pressing pause, I took off my headphones and listened, making sure my tired mind wasn’t playing tricks on me. Moments later the knocking came again. 

I knew who it was; there was no doubt. Shuffling out from under my covers I made my way to the door, opening it to find that Eclipse had her back turned. 

Her mane was a mess and her tail seemed to have tied itself into a knot around her back leg. When she turned around I saw that her eyes dropped with sleep, but  she forced them back up as if afraid of some nightmare.

“I-I’m still mad at you,” she said, her voice, dry and scratchy. “But I—” she turned her head, straining to get the words out. “But  I want to hear my… mommy’s voice again.” 

“Sure, come on in.” I opened the door and moved back to the bed, wrapping myself in the blanket once again before going back to the ‘Winter Wrap Up’ episode. I enjoyed watching… I mean researching that episode as it had a bunch of Ponyville culture laced in with a good moral and well written, and choreographed, song.

“Do you want to listen from that dark and scary hall?” I said in the best taunting voice my brain could muster. “Or do you want to hear it from my warm bed?”

“I JUST WANT TO HEAR MY MOMMY’S VOICE!!!” she screamed, her voice cracking. “Don’t patronize me!”

“Okay, okay.” I clicked play.

“Spike, wake up. Wake up, wake up, it's Winter Wrap Up day!” Twilight’s voice shouted as she nudged a sleeping Spike.

“Huh? Mommy?” Spike said looking at Twilight with groggy eyes. 

“Winter Wrap Up!” 

“You’re not mommy.” Spike pulled the blanket back over his head and went back to sleep.

I turned to Eclipse. The sound of tiny sniffles were all that I could hear besides Twilight going on about a checklist. 

“Ma- Mommy?” I picked up on the soft sound of her small hooves scratching against the carpet. “Mommy?” Her voice cracked and she forced a cry down with a hiccup. “Mommy!” This one was more of a whine, but  the beginnings of her face entered the light. 

My heart sank.

Though I had enough light to see that her mane and tail were disheveled, I couldn’t clearly see her eyes. The closer she got, the more redness I saw in them. There was a giant bag under each one and when she got to the foot of the bed I saw that she was still crying!

I reached over the bed to bring her into a hug, but  froze when she hit my hand. 

“Stay aw-aw-away!” she shouted, her hiccups making her stutter her words. “It-it’s y-your fault! Everything!” She ran out of the room, her hiccups turning into full fledged sobs. 

I couldn’t help letting a few tears of my own fall. I felt them take their journey along my cheek. It hurts whenever a child cries, especially when she said it’s your fault. Even though I know it wasn’t, my heart breaking made me feel like I was to blame. 
To make matters worse, I couldn’t comfort her. I knew that if I confronted Eclipse, she would attack me like a cornered animal.

With a hard shutter, I clicked back to the “Call of the Cutie’ episode and put my headphones back on, turning the volume up to the max in hopes of drowning out her cries.

It didn’t work and I fell asleep two hours later.